The Children’s Book Writing Club
INFORMATION, ARRANGEMENTS AND CONDITIONS – SHORT WRITING COURSES
with Catherine Burwell
Forms and formalities:
Thank you for your interest in our writing courses. It will take about 10 minutes in total to read through then fill in and email us these forms. [Clicking: “Edit document” means you can fill in the boxes. The forms will also cut and paste if necessary so that you can write in the boxes. Please save your own copy.]
1. Once you have read the information, if you wish to apply for a place, please fill in the application form below and return the application form for a provisional place by email to cathy@cathyburwell.com. Please wait to hear back from us about your child's place, and at that point, funds can be sent via bank transfer, or via cheque which will confirm your booking.
2. There is a parental consent form below the application form part. Please fill this in too and email the whole document to us. We will print your form, and will ask you or a representative to sign the form on the first day of the course when you drop your child off.
If you have any questions about the programme, please email me on cathy@cathyburwell.com or telephone me on (01423) 313562 between the hours of 4pm – 7pm any weekday.
The short course programme will include:
story writing activities within a theme
games, warm up activities and lively teaching
ideas generation and work on story lines and character
reference to other resources including books and images
story planning techniques
a short learning time outdoors (within grounds of venue)
advice on editing and English improvement techniques
experimenting with descriptive writing and appropriate vocabulary sets
work in groups, pairs and individually
rest/break times at regular intervals each day
Children may not finish their story during a short course, but will be well equipped to continue writing it at home.
Our assurances to you:
1 All content of films/videos if used, other resources or books used, displayed or shown in the workshop will be chosen to fall within “Parental Guidance” (PG) levels.
2 Every effort to keep your child safe in the venue, and outside the teaching room will be made by the author/any other group helper.
3 A highly encouraging and participatory style will be promoted during the course, to help all children engage in the activities, with an expectation that they will do well.
4 Catherine and a helper will encourage each child in the group, towards the development of their own writing, in addition to group work activities.
5 Children will have scheduled breaks indoors and outdoors during the day.
6 Catherine is an author, qualified teacher and qualified personal empowerment coach, with a current DBS check in place. She will focus on every individual getting the best out of the workshop.
ARRANGEMENTS AND CONDITIONS – Short Writing Course.
We just have a few things to check before you apply for a place:
1 All children attending must be able to write in full sentences in English, have a good understanding of the English language, and have an interest in writing stories. [If your child requires specialist support for English this is not available within our writing programmes, but can be offered separately in one-
2 All children attending must either be able to access classrooms, playground and outdoor areas on their own, or, have a helper who can stay for the course to help them.
3 All children attending must be able to control their own behaviour during the programme. Children who are considered to be disrupting the group or the objectives of the programme, may be asked to be leave the course without notice.
4 The fee for courses as shown on the information sheet, is payable once we have received your form, and have contacted you to confirm a place. The programme runs from the times shown on the information sheet. We will confirm these on booking. Your fee includes use of computer facilities and the venue facilities, resources to undertake exercises, video and books referenced during the week. Biscuits and drinks at break times are available on course days of 6+ hours.
5 If you have to cancel your child's place before the programme, we will aim to find a substitute/child on a waiting list to attend. In this case, you will be fully reimbursed. Please ensure your child's place is firmly booked and paid for at least one week before the start of the course. Cancellation after this date may result in a partial refund only. Please let us know as soon as possible of any changes to your booking.
6 Confirmation of places, and all other standard communications prior to the workshop, will be by email.
7 The fee does not include, and therefore please provide:
a packed lunch and a bottle of water
Small snacks if required for the break time (All: no chewing gum please; Primary: no sweets, sorry!)
a lined or lined/blank notebook eg. A5 size for easy carrying
at least one pen and pencil
suitable shoes for walking around outside eg. trainers, and rainproof coat
If you have any other queries before applying, please contact Catherine Burwell by email on cathy@cathyburwell.com or by telephone as outlined above.
We hope your child will have a wonderful time with us on this unique writers programme.
Please click on an arrow to find the Application Form, and Consent Form
