Story Sacks OMG

What is Story Sacks - Communication and Interaction Support?

Story Sacks are interactive resources designed to enhance children's communication and interaction skills through storytelling. They typically include a storybook, puppets, props, and activity ideas to bring the story to life.

How does it work?

They use storytelling as a medium to model and teach language. Strategies like modelling, physical prompts, and creative activities support vocabulary, grammar, and narrative skills.

What are the principles? What are the benefits?

Story Sacks promote active engagement, multisensory learning, and inclusive practice. They improve language, social interaction, and motivation, and support fine motor skills and creative expression.

Who and how can this intervention benefit?

Ideal for early years and primary-aged children, especially those with speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN), SEND, or EAL.

How can this intervention be used? What needs can it support? What CYP may benefit the most?

They support language delay, social communication, and emotional literacy. Best suited for children needing expressive and receptive language support.

How can schools/settings support with Story Sacks?

By integrating Story Sacks into literacy and intervention sessions, and offering lending schemes. Staff can be trained to tailor use to individual needs.

How can families support with Story Sacks?

Families can use them at home to encourage storytelling and conversation. Libraries and schools may offer lending schemes.

How can you help CYP understand, be ready for and get the most out of their Story Sacks

Introduce the story context and vocabulary, use props to build engagement, and encourage retelling and creative play.

What information/support is available nationally?

The Education Endowment Foundation's Early Years Evidence Store highlights the effectiveness of storytelling. Twinkl offers additional resources.

What information/ support do we have in Norfolk?

Story Sacks are available through schools, libraries, and early years services. Local training and guidance may be accessed via Norfolk SEND services.

Key contacts / How to refer

Speak with your School and Community Team Manager or Early Help Consultant

• Contact the SEND and Inclusion Line 0333 313 7165
• Raise the topic at your Team Around the School (TAS) meeting to discuss suitability and next steps