Imaginiation and visualisation are so important for any creative writing activity. When children are faced with a blank sheet of paper and asked to write a story, poem or piece of descriptive writing they sometimes don't know where to start. If we want them to try to create a picture with words, it makes sense that first making that picture visually is going to help them 'see' what they are writing about; colours, shapes, characters, settings and ideas. Here are some ideas to use art to spark brilliant creative writing.

If you have young children in your household you will probably be aware that Chris Evans aka Captain America recently read the Cbeebies Bedtime Story. For just over five minutes, silence descended on my family as my five year old daughter, fourteen year old son, husband and myself sat glued to the television - all might I add for very different reasons.

For many children who find page after page of text daunting, reading can seem like a dreaded chore. Here are some ideas to help make reading fun, build confidence and encourage a lifelong love of books and reading.