Robinsfield Primary School has been delivering Shakespeare to its five and six-year-old pupils with a specific focus on literacy, oracy and language. Headteacher Naomi Leaver explains how they approach this work

While some adults don’t understand the relevance of Shakespeare to their lives today, five and six-year-olds at our school have cracked it.

They relate to his stories and characters without the need for explanation. When discovered through play, the stories work magic, unlocking language and the joy of sharing narratives. In turn, they act as a model for children to write their own stories.

Robinsfield Primary is situated in north London and has a rich cultural diversity. More than 80 per cent of children come from minority ethnic backgrounds and more than 70 per cent have English as an additional language. There are around 60 languages spoken and many join us with no English, yet I was confident in using Shakespeare to support our ethos of developing creative and independent learners.

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