Invite me to speak at your primary school
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Are you looking for a published author to visit your KS1 children?
I'm a professional speaker and trainer, with a history of volunteering with children from all backgrounds, and an enhanced DBS certificate. I love to bring my passion for writing into primary schools by delivering educational, entertaining sessions based upon my own original writing. I'm currently available for sessions to celebrate the following events:
To book your 60-minute session, please drop me an email using the button below. It'll be fantastic to hear from you. I'm offering a 50% discount for the month of March 2026. Details below! |
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Teacher testimonials ❤️
Miss Kerry Lynch, Year 2, Hill West Primary School, July 2025: "We had a fantastic morning with Simon Fairbanks, a wonderfully inspiring children’s poet, who visited our Kingfishers class to share his original poetry. From the moment he began, Simon had the children completely engaged — they were hooked by his energy, humour, and the fun ways he played with words. He performed his brilliant poem Beach Toys, which the children found both funny and meaningful. They particularly enjoyed the comparisons between family members and different animals, which sparked lots of laughter and thoughtful discussion. The poem also ended with a powerful message about screen time and spending quality moments together — giving the children plenty to think about. Simon’s visit was not only fun and enjoyable, but also left the children feeling inspired to create their own poems. His enthusiasm for poetry was truly contagious, and we’re so grateful to him for sharing his time, creativity, and passion with us." Choose your session 🏖️🐶🪰 1. Beach Toys We'll explore my seaside poem 'Beach Toys' inspired by the poetry of A. A. Milne. A child forgets to bring their toys to the beach, but thankfully their family members embrace their inner animals to entertain the child. We'll use the poem as an opportunity to discuss inspiration, portmanteaus, and morals. The class will also experience listening to poetry with their eyes closed to discover the benefits this can bring. The session will end with a hands-on illustration task. The children will be invited to draw the animals from the story using their imagination. 2. Yvette Wants A Pet! We'll enjoy my playful poem 'Yvette Wants A Pet!' inspired by the nonsensical rhyming poetry of Dr Seuss. Yvette desperately wants a pet, any pet, but her dad has endless objections. We'll use the poem as an opportunity to discuss similes, structure, and rhyming. The class will also appreciate the art of performance, and how a poem can be brought to life with multiple readers. The session will end with a fun rhyming game. The children will pick a word at random from a "lucky dip" bag, then try to think of rhyming words. 3. The Wee Wise Weevil We'll read my didactic poem 'The Wee Wise Weevil' inspired by the books of Julia Donaldson. A weevil meets a sad house fly who longs to be a more impressive type of fly. The weevil lends a comforting ear, then teaches the house fly a valuable lesson. We'll use the poem as an opportunity to discuss titles, alliteration, and repetition. The class will also perform the poem along with me. We'll use the "I try, you try" approach, along with some funny actions. The session will end with a creative writing activity. The children will be asked to design and draw their own alliterative character. Costs 🐖 I'm offering a 50% discount for bookings taking place in March 2026 in recognition of World Book Day and World Poetry Day. 1 x 60-minute session - £100 2 x 60-minute sessions - £175 3 x 60-minute sessions - £250 4 x 60-minute sessions - £325 These costs include any handouts required for the session, a printed copy of my poem for every child, and a takeaway homework sheet. I always cover my own travel expenses, and I don't need to charge VAT. My approach 🎓 I deliver engaging classroom-based sessions, with lots of interactive discussions and activities. I have an engaging and entertaining approach to presenting, so the children will listen, learn, and laugh in equal measure. My sessions begin with a fun overview of being an author, with plenty of opportunity for the children to participate. I will then perform one of my original children's poems for the class, before exploring a few of the literary devices used within the poem. Each session culminates with a classroom activity, during which I will circulate and talk to every child. And finally, I'll read a bonus poem at the very end... with a little help from the teacher! Every session is supported by a visual, memorable, and informative slide deck. I will also provide each child with a copy of my poem to keep, and an optional homework sheet with fun tasks. In addition, I will share a full lesson plan with the school before my visit for extra reassurance. My experience 📚 I have a wide range of experience in the three areas below. Put together, I hope these make me a reliable choice as a guest speaker. 1. Published author 2. Professional speaker 3. Children's volunteer You can find further details about each of these areas below. 1. Published author
2. Professional speaker
3. Children's volunteer
Get in touch 👋 To book your 60-minute session, please drop me an email using the button below. I'll happily answer your questions. I can also find time for a short call if that will help your decision. Sometimes it's easier to chat! |
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