CLPE is the National Poetry Centre for Primary Schools

Poetry at CLPE

Poetry is a fundamental element in the development of children’s literacy. This site holds an extensive bank of poems for children and poetry teaching resources, videos of poet performances and interviews to support the teaching of poetry in the classroom.
For insight into CLPE's work, view our Poetry at CLPE video with poets Joseph Coelho, Karl Nova, CLPE Chief Executive Louise Johns-Shepherd and Learning Programme Leader Charlotte Hacking. 
Schools - Join the CLPE/Walker Books Poetry Competition and win £200 of Walker Books
 
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Use our free poetry teaching resources

Poets

Introduce children to poets through film

Find out more about favourite children’s poets. Read their poems, watch their performance films and listen to their interviews. Enjoy well-loved poets and discover new ones through our resources.

See poets perform for National Poetry Day 2019

Steven Camden - Winner of CLiPPA 2019

Karl Nova

Kate Wakeling

Roger McGough

Allan Ahlberg

Joseph Coelho

Michael Rosen

View All Poets

Poems

Discover hundreds of poems

Listen to award winning poets read their poems out loud with your children. Inspire them with classic favourites and introduce them to new poems from a variety of books and verse novels.

Please Mrs Butler

Welly Boots

The Sound Collector

School tomorrow - excuses for Mum

Windrush child

Firework Poem

Bush fire

Aleppo Cat

The great fire of London

Peer Pressure

View All Poems

Teaching Sequences

Explore poetry in depth

Use our free teaching sequences to guide your planning (including for National Poetry Day) and use the teaching approaches to explore poetry in depth; enhancing reading comprehension and providing meaningful contexts and purposes for writing and performance.

In Truth, Poetry: National Poetry Day writing challenge resources

Nursery, Reception or Year 1 – Thinker, My Puppy Poet and Me by Eloise Greenfield

Years 3/4/5 - A Kid in My Class by Rachel Rooney

Years 5/6 – Dark Sky Park by Philip Gross

Years 6/7- Everything All At Once - Steven Camden

Years 6/7 – Rebound by Kwame Alexander

Text "Poetry in Pramary Schools, what we know works" and CLPE logos

Create a Poetry Classroom

We have created extensive materials to support best practice in the teaching of poetry supporting teachers and children to become confident poetry readers and writers

Key Teaching Approaches

Booklists

Teaching Sequences

Guide to Teaching Poetry in Primary Schools

CLPE Poetry Award (CLiPPA)

We run a school’s shadowing scheme alongside CLiPPA, the only UK award which celebrates outstanding poetry published for children. Use the films of the shortlisted poets performing and the specially written teaching sequences for their books to inspire your children

Teaching Sequences for CLiPPA 2019 and all shortlisted poets 

See our videos of poet performances  poet interviews and children performing poetry

Find out more about CLiPPA and register your interest for 2020

Join us at Let's Write! Improving Reading and Writing Using Poetry Course with Matt Goodfellow

Learn how poetry can be used in cross-curricular ways to engage children, develop effective writing and boost attainment in this one day course led by professional poet and author, Matt Goodfellow being held on 16 March 2021.

 

Let's Write! Improving Reading and Writing Using Poetry course 16 March 2021

Upcoming Training

Book Launch at the Literacy Library - with Swapna Haddow and Dapo Adeola

Thursday, 29 April 2021 - 5:00pm

Understanding the Reading Journey : Planning for Progression in Years 3-4 - Webinar

Wednesday, 5 May 2021 - 10:00am

Understanding the Reading Journey: Planning for Progression in Years 5-6 - Webinar

Wednesday, 5 May 2021 - 3:30pm

Understanding the Reading Journey: Planning for Progression in the Early Years - Webinar

Thursday, 6 May 2021 - 10:00am

Understanding the Reading Journey: Planning for Progression in Years 1-2 - Webinar

Thursday, 6 May 2021 - 3:30pm

See all upcoming events

  • I’ve led English for 9 years and I’ve still learnt something new in each session. The best course I’ve ever been on

    Progress and Achievement in Reading training participant

  • CLPE training has had a transformational effect on the engagement of our children in reading and writing.

    Headteacher, 2017

  • Poetryline is a fantastic resource which fills a much needed gap.

    Poetryline User

  • The CLPE Reading and Writing Scales could transform English pedagogy & assessment. An excellent free resource.

    Dame Alison Peacock

  • The project has had a huge impact in the EYFS through use of the books and teaching sequences. It has been instrumental in giving more confidence and inspiration to our teachers.

    Deputy Headteacher, Power of Reading project