SALT - Festival by the Sea

Two girls reading posters of articles from the People's Journal

SALT - Festival by the Sea – Portlethen Schools Network, Aberdeenshire

SALT evolved from a wish to open the magic of books to all our youngsters regardless of ability, age, or gender and to make the written word come alive for them. It began in one of our schools and grew to encompass not just the other primaries, pre-school groups and the academy, but our whole community in a literary and arts festival! This ambitious project would not have been possible without the support of funding such as that from the Scottish Book Trust's Live Literature funding scheme which helped us to bring poets, authors and storytellers into the classroom and enhance the learning taking place there.

‘LLF enabled us to organise visits from Gill Arbuthnott, Grace Banks and Linda Strachan to name but a few. Meeting the originators of work we had read/heard together was a highlight for pupils and made the experience both real and memorable. We also organised for Matthew Fitt to work with classes and run a CPD session for staff on using Scots in the classroom. He was a big hit with both staff and pupils and the practical ideas he has given us will support us in being able to deliver Scots in exciting, fun ways which embrace the principle of active learning in our schools.’

Susan Smith

SALT co-ordinator, Fishermoss School