My First Poem 2022 for Nurseries and Pre-Schools

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My First Poem invites your children to complete a special poetry template that celebrates their uniqueness and their favourite person. It captures their likes at this time in their life, making a lovely keepsake to look back on.

My First Poem supports the EYFS literacy requirements, ECAT and the ELG of being imaginative and expressive. Taking part is fun and easy, so get your setting involved today... and remember to let us know why your setting should win the £1,000 prize!

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For Nurseries / Pre-Schools

1st Prize - £1,000

We’d love to know what you’d do with the prize money – would you enhance your outdoor space? Stock up your library? Upgrade your play equipment? Let us know for a chance to win £1,000 for your setting to spend however you choose!

Runner-Up Prize

One setting will win an amazing lending library

PLUS Every participating nursery receives a free copy of the book their children feature in.

[Student Prizes] => [Winners Subheading] => We're delighted to announce the winners... [Winners Intro] =>

We're delighted to announce the My First Poem 2022 winners...

My First Poem £1,000 1st Prize

This has been awarded to Linden Tree Nursery School, London whose children's poems feature in "My First Poem 2022 - Little Treasures".

The setting worked with the children to write a poem about what they'd do with £1,000 if they won, it grabbed our attention & our hearts, and we're delighted to have awarded them the prize.

My First Poem Runner-Up

Keystone Nursery, Birmingham has been awarded a lending library with over 50 books and book bags for them to start using with their children straight away.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part, we loved reading all the poems and the submissions for why settings should win £1,000! We're sure you can imagine that is a tough task, but one we enjoyed nevertheless!

Look out for My First Poem 2023 in January & if your setting isn't on our mailing list email [email protected] to join!

[Rules] =>

Only one entry per child, there is no limit to the number of entries per setting.

Poems can be on the entry form or an A4 sheet of paper or the editable PDF.

Poems must be each child's own work/words.

Ensure that all entrants' names, ages and setting are included on the entry form.

Poems can be written/typed by an adult.

[Tips] =>

Songs and rhymes are a fantastic way to introduce poetry to preschoolers as it helps them with vocabulary and they learn rhythm too.

Why not make up songs to tunes your children already know, it lets your children be imaginative, sing about something they like, express themselves, supports ECAT and is entertaining for everyone involved!

You could get started by:
- Using musical instruments to create a tune

- Making a song out of an activity - such as jumping in puddles 'Splash, splash, jump, jump, jump!' Children can add their own words, perhaps counting how many jumps or puddles, etc

- Pick a song they know, such as 'Wheels on the Bus' and change the vehicle or 'Five Little Ducks' and change the animal, etc to help your children use their imaginations

- Make up a song about things you do daily... putting on shoes, getting a snack, circle time & encourage your children to do the same!

Act our rhymes with your children! Why? Because words linked with movement helps children remember. Not only is this a fun activity it helps vocabulary and supports ECAT.

'Humpty Dumpty', 'Wind The Bobbin Up', 'Head, Shoulder, Knees & Toes' and 'Row, Row Your Boat' are just a few great examples that you could try!

To help engage your children with creating poems why not try inspiring them with colour?

Ask them...
What is green?
What is red?
What is blue? and so on.

Help them share with you a rainbow - what do they associate with each colour, learn their interests and dislikes etc, as well as see their imaginations in full swing!

Extend last week's using colour tip with description.

Once a child has given you an answer, you can talk to them about the shape of their answer or how to use their senses to describe it.

E.g. What is green?
Answer: A frog

The frog is green, round and croaky.

This use of description introduces the concept of imagery, which they will use in school to write poems!

Send My First Poem home with your children so they can complete the activity with their parents. Give them a deadline a couple of weeks before the comp closes on 25th Feb, then if any parents aren't able to complete the activity at home you have time to do so in your setting instead.

This is a lovely activity for parents to do with their child, and you'll often learn family nicknames, about their pets or favourite person a bit more as in a home setting the children are less likely to repeat someone else's answer!

As children can dedicate their My First Poem to their favourite person, it's a great way to celebrate who they love as Valentine's Day draws near.

Once poems are completed, you can photocopy or scan them (we don't have to have the originals!) then include a copy of the poem in a card the child has made in time for them to give to their fave person on Valentine's Day.

What a lovely way to make someone smile!

[Orion ID] => 515 [Independent Intro] =>

Help your children write their very own first poem using our fun, easy 'All About Me' template!

It's a lovely way to build literacy and creative skills, plus the activity supports the Ealy Years Foundation Stage literacy requirements too!

If you haven't got a printer, don't panic! You're welcome to help them write out their poem and send us a photo instead! Or you can complete the editable PDF and email it back to us - the entry form is suitable for both options.

[Independent Prizes] =>

For Nurseries / Pre-Schools

1st Prize - £1,000

Runner-Up Prize

One setting will win an amazing lending library

PLUS Every participating nursery receives a free copy of the book their children feature in.

For Children

Certificate for each child whose work is accepted for publication.

Free bookmark & sticker for all children taking part.

[Independent Rules] =>

Only one entry per person.

Poems can be on the entry form or an A4 sheet of paper or the editable PDF.

The poem must be completed in your child's own words.

Ensure that your child's name, age and address are included on the entry form.

Poems can be written/typed by an adult.

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This competition is now closed.

If you have late entries, please email us at [email protected] and we'll do our best to accommodate them.

Open competitions can be found here.

What happens now?

Our editorial team will read every single entry. Any child whose work they'd love to publish in a book will be sent a letter and certificate. Children whose work hasn't met the competition criteria will have the chance to resubmit their work. Winners will be chosen from published pieces once all the books in the series have been published.

Competition Timeline

Stage	Date	Status
Letters Sent	By No date set	⏳ In Progress
Books Published	No date set - No date set	⏳ Coming Soon
Winners Announced	No date set	⏳ Coming Soon

Please note we aim to keep these dates as accurate as possible but can be subject to change.

For more detailed information about your school's entries, please log in (or create) your teacher account here using the email you included on your teacher entry form.