Milton Keynes Primary PRU pupils achieve success in annual poetry competition

This year, the 25th year of the annual competition, more than 25,000 entries were received.

Nine entries from nine pupils from Milton Keynes Primary PRU have been chosen to be published in the Once upon a Dream south east edition.

The competition aims to encourage children to enjoy poetry and the editorial policy takes a broad view of what makes a good poem; perception, imagination and creativity are all taken into account as well as expression, originality and use of language.

Mrs Larcombe, class teacher, who encouraged the children to enter the competition said: “The children began their writing journey through discussing their thoughts and feelings and then constructed their poems about their hopes and dreams. They shared their ideas with each other and then wrote their personal Once upon a dream poem.”

Ms Mills, Headteacher of Milton Keynes Primary PRU understands how important poetry is in supporting children to express their emotions through words: “Poetry promotes literacy, builds community, and fosters emotional resilience. A well-crafted phrase or two in a poem can help us see an experience in an entirely new way. We can gain insight that we have previously not known, and that can give new understanding and strength. It can be very empowering for a child to write a poem and express themselves through words and feelings. The children at Milton Keynes Primary PRU are especially proud of their poems they have written, and we are especially proud of their success.”

Councillor Zoe Nolan, cabinet member with responsibility for children and families added: “I was delighted to hear this wonderful news. To have nine poems published out of so many entries is a great result not just for the school, but for Milton Keynes as a whole. I recently visited the school and saw their amazing art work but I was not aware that they excelled in poetry as well. We are all very proud of their achievements, which show the strength of their work in literacy.”