Bolton nursery writes book after children with SEN

Julie Karen Robinson, 51, working alongside Nicola Collinson, 47, owner of Active Afterschool sessions for children, has penned "A Dinosaur with a Difference".

It involves youngsters from the borough who have drawn the dinosaurs within the pages.

The book follows the story of a dinosaur who attends nursery school and is accepted by his many friends and adults around him.

He is proud of who he is and the book demonstrates how being inclusive can make a huge impact on an individual's life.

Julie has owned and managed Eagley School House Nursery for almost 20 years.

During this time, she has developed a phonics programme, raised money for community events and developed the Mini Minds Matter approach in response to the pandemic.

Julie has worked with Nicola in the past and they continue to focus on developing children in the most creative ways.

More recently, Julie and illustrator Lucy Edwards have been working with Nicola and children at the afterschool club about wellbeing- teaching resilience and emotional regulation.

Julie and Nicola are passionate about providing inclusive practice for all children, stating they see the solutions they can provide to help care for children with a variety of needs.

This led Julie to write a book about a dinosaur with SEN.

Julie wanted to promote the achievements of children so she and Nicola included youngsters from Active Afterschool in designing the dinosaurs for the story.

One of the children's dinosaur drawings (Image: Julie Robinson)

Julie said: “I wrote the book because I have a passion to make a difference to young children.

“I have written a number of books now and I am enjoying what they have brought to children and families.

“I have owned my own settings for nearly 20 years, and I have supported so many children with additional needs during this time and honestly, they have shown me how to be resilient and I have learnt how being inclusive and making the necessary adaptations can enhance a child’s experience to learning.

“I started to make notes around six months ago for ideas for the story and then it started to come together as a story.

“Many of my children move onto to Active Afterschool as Nicola is also just as passionate about being inclusive.

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“This was the reason I chose her setting and her children to design the dinosaurs for the book.

“A number of people have now read it as it’s just become available on Amazon.

“The children enjoyed designing the dinosaurs and seeing them come to life in the book.

“They have learnt how to create images for a purpose.

“They listened to the story before, and this helped to spark their imagination.

Nicola, Lucy and Julie (Image: Julie Robinson)

“We can’t wait to continue to work together and bring those inner writers out with the opportunity to create short stories of their own.

“We have just ordered the children their copy of the book off Amazon so they can see it, but seeing their characters and dinosaurs come to life has been brilliant.

“It is so rewarding when children see they can be creative and be anything they want to be, it is really satisfying and rewarding to give something back to our community and build these children up on everything they have gone through.”

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Parent Gemma Gibbon added: “I love the story, my son is older and has additional needs, but this would really help children understand about children who face challenges.

“I love the title of the book.”

Julie and Nicola have won awards in Bolton already and want to continue to be a leading force for change.

Julie has also previously written a book for children with life-limiting illnesses with all proceeds donated to Reubens Retreat and will be conducting summer writing sessions with more stories to come in the future.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.