Best-selling children’s author Sophie Kirtley hosted a creative writing workshop for pupils at an Iffley school during a recent visit.

The award-winning author, whose books include The Wild Way Home, visited The Iffley Academy where she also guided the youngsters through a series of reading activities allowing them to explore the themes and ideas in here books.

Ms Kirtley’s books have been published in many languages across the world and have been selected as top reads for children by The Reading Agency, BookTrust and Waterstones.

The stories are set in the Stone Age and are inspired in part by her own childhood and the landscape where she grew up, near an important pre-historic site in Northern Ireland.

Pupils got the chance to have their books signed by the author, who also wrote each of them personalised messages.

Ms Kirtley said: “Meeting young readers and chatting with them about the books they love is always such a joy. Kids have the best imaginations and I just love their infectious enthusiasm for stories.” 

Yvette Fay, head teacher at The Iffley Academy, said: “It was wonderful to have Sophie here with us. Pupils thoroughly enjoyed the creative writing workshops and activities that she delivered across the day and left feeling so inspired.”