Based in Huddersfield, I offer a variety of workshops to primary and secondary schools. My 'Dave Days' (coined by Doncaster librarians) offer your chosen mix of reading, writing and drama activity. I've worked right across the age range from Y1 to Y13 and draw on 16 years of teaching experience alongside my passions for reading and writing. I also offer INSET and conference seminars + workshops.

Two Types of Day are very popular:

 

Creative Writing Day ~ Pupils use picture prompts, planning sheets and specific prose techniques to create characters, a plot and the opening sections of a story.

 

Drama & Literature Day ~ Pupils explore five or six fiction titles through a mixture of talk, drama and sometimes writing. I have worked extensively on The Doncaster Book Award and on The Carnegie Medal with this type of day. I've also worked on The Greenaway Medal, The Southwark Book Award, and The Salford Children's Book Award.

I also offer an optional Feedback Pack which includes two copies of a photo / text report + certificates for the kids. This is often used for display, line-manager, open evenings, etc.

Areas where I've worked include:  Blackburn, Bradford, Bury, Calderdale, Derby, Doncaster, Hertfordshire, Kirklees, Northern Ireland, Oldham, Peterborough, Salford, Sheffield, St Helens, Southwark, Surrey, Wakefield.

As a writer, I continue to work on prose fiction aimed at 9-12 year-olds whilst also writing plays and poetry.  My unpublished children's novel 'The Seven Ages of Jack' was shortlisted for the Fidler Award. My youth play 'Our House' was performed in The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.   Guardian Online has published over 50 of my haikus. Longer poems and a short story have been published in anthologies.

With your selected mix of drama, books & writing, your day can be tailored entirely to your needs, working across several classes or intensively with one group for the whole day. Weekend workshops are an option.