CLPE is the National Poetry Centre for Primary Schools

Poetry is a fundamental element in the development of children’s literacy. This site holds an extensive bank of teaching sequences, videos of poet performances and interviews and a wealth of resources to support the quality teaching of poetry in the classroom. We are a National Poetry Day Partner and have developed specific resources to help you celebrate this day in your school.

For more insight into CLPE's work with poetry view our video Poetry at CLPE, with poets Joseph Coelho, Karl Nova, CLPE Chief Executive Louise Johns-Shepherd and Learning Programme Leader Charlotte Hacking.

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Use our free poetry teaching resources

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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 3 poets perform for National Poetry Day 2018

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

Jungle Cat

View All Poems

Teaching Sequences

Explore poetry in depth

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

National Poetry Day Anthology - Poetry for a Change

Nursery, Reception or Year 1 – Zim Zam Zoom! by James Carter

Years 2/3/4 - Where Zebras Go by Sue Hardy-Dawson

Years 4/5 – Rhythm and Poetry by Karl Nova

Years 5/6 - Wonderland: Alice in Poetry, edited by Michaela Morgan

Years 6/7 – Overheard in the Tower Block

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

Kidds at CLiPPA Poetry Awards 2017

CLPE Poetry Award (CLiPPA)

We run a school’s shadowing scheme alongside CLiPPA, 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 2018 shortlisted poets 

Teaching Sequences for all CLiPPA shortlisted poets

Find out more and register your interest for CLiPPA 2018

Crumpled hand written notes posted to the wall

Reading for Pleasure

We work to emphasise the importance of books and literature in enabling children to become confident, happy and enthusiastic readers and writers. Discover our range of Reading for Pleasure resources

A guide to Reading for Pleasure

The Power of Reading

The CLPE Reading and Writing Scales

Teachers drawing

CPD

All CLPE training is designed to help you develop practical approaches to literacy learning that inspire a love of reading and writing for all children. Teachers attending our training receive strategies and resources that can be put into immediate practise and support EYFS 2014 and NC 2014.

Our full range of training

Power of Reading training near you

Upcoming Training

Supporting Phonics in the Primary Years for Teaching Assistants

Tuesday, 20 November 2018 - 10:00am

Planning Creatively Around Texts KS2

Wednesday, 21 November 2018 - 10:00am

Power of Reading in the Early Years London

Tuesday, 27 November 2018 - 10:00am

Group Reading from Reception to Year 2

Monday, 3 December 2018 - 10:00am

Planning Creatively Around Texts KS1

Thursday, 6 December 2018 - 10:00am

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