Storyteller Marion Leeper visits Manea Primary School

Manea Primary School event sponsored by Arkwood Living <i>(Image: Supplied)</i>
Manea Primary School event sponsored by Arkwood Living (Image: Supplied)
This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald.

A school storytelling session has sparked imaginations, thanks to a visit from a professional storyteller.

The event took place at Manea Primary School and was sponsored by Arkwood Living, the developer behind The Osiers housing scheme.

Marion Leeper, Cambridge’s first official Bard and a regular performer at schools and festivals, delivered a day of interactive sessions for pupils from the Early Years Foundation Stage to Key Stage 2.

Nicky Froggatt, headteacher at Manea Primary School, said: "The children were absolutely enthralled by Marion’s stories.

"It was a wonderful opportunity to see their imaginations come alive, and we’re grateful to Arkwood Living for making it possible."

Ms Leeper tailored her performances to each age group, sharing a mix of folk and fairy tales from around the world.

Themes centred on the idea of 'home,' including a lively African tale about a frog sneaking into a lion’s house and a selection of riddles from the UK and beyond.

Reception pupils took part in sensory stories involving props and audience participation, while older pupils enjoyed Fenland folklore, tongue-twisters, and stories with moral lessons.

The storytelling day was made possible with support from Arkwood Living, who also donated £200 to the school to help fund new books for pupils.

Andrew Dewberry, managing director at Arkwood Living, said: "It’s fantastic to see pupils engage so enthusiastically with storytelling.

"At Arkwood Living, we believe that strong communities are built on education and creativity, and we’re proud to contribute to that through events like these."

Arkwood Living’s nearby development, The Osiers, offers two, three and four-bedroom homes as well as two-bedroom bungalows.

The properties feature air source heat pumps, electric car chargers, and integrated kitchen appliances.

The Osiers is located on Edwards Way in Manea.

Get involved
with the news

Send your news & photos