Sissoko supports national poetry competition

Moussa Sissoko today (Friday) visited North Harringay Primary School to encourage entries to this year’s Premier League Writing Stars poetry competition.

Our in-form midfielder joined a Year 5 and 6 class who have been working with staff from Tottenham Hotspur Foundation to use their passion for football and sport to write their own poems to submit to the competition.

Premier League Writing Stars is open to all primary school pupils across England and Wales and is supported by the National Literacy Trust. This year’s entries will be judged by an all-star judging panel including singer songwriter Olly Murs, former Premier League footballer Rio Ferdinand, Children’s Laureate Lauren Child and poet Joseph Coelho. Teachers have until Friday 21 December to submit their pupils’ poems either online or by post. Winners will be announced in March, 2019.

Club staff spend one day a week in schools across the Club’s local community delivering Premier League Writing Stars as well as one-to-one support for selected students in English and maths. The Foundation also provides PE support to teachers to help them feel more confident and gain an increased knowledge in delivering quality physical activity and sport lessons.

The Writing Stars initiative forms part of Premier League Primary Stars, which uses the appeal of football clubs to inspire children in English, maths, PE and PSHE.

Moussa helped the children with a poetry-based activity before getting the chance to hear some of their poems about diversity – the theme for this year’s Premier League Writing Stars competition. The class also spent time discussing respect, tolerance and how diversity should be celebrated.

Moussa said: “It’s been great meeting the children today and listening to their poems. This is a fantastic initiative to encourage children to try creative writing and use their imagination to express themselves through words.”

Jane Alexander, Head Teacher at North Harringay Primary School, said: “It’s been brilliant having Moussa visiting our school today to help inspire the children to keep writing and continue to enjoy their English classes. Our children always look forward to their lessons with the staff from Tottenham Hotspur Foundation and I would like to thank them for their ongoing support and commitment to our pupils.”