Testimonials

THE STORY ROOM TESTIMONIALS

As a childen’s author I am interested in anything that inspires children to read and to create their own stories and I was delighted to come across The Story Room.  Helena creates a wonderfully creative space for children to be inspired, to learn ways to make their writing more engaging and to have fun with their ideas.  In the course of a two hour workshop I have seen even the most reluctant young writers come out of their shells to produce some of the wittiest, funniest and most devilish pieces of creative writing I have ever seen.  I wholly recommend the Story Room and I look forward to working with them again soon.

Allan Boroughs (Author of Ironheart – Macmillan Children’s Books, 2014 and Bloodstone, released 2015)

The Story  Room is an  exhilarating experience where you work hard, but don’t realise it, meet new people and make friends.  Enjoy yourself because there are moments at The Story Room you’ll never forget!  Additionally at The Story Room I had the chance to meet authors, go to Forty Hall and most importantly have fun!  Z.R. (aged 10)

I just wanted to say how much my daughter enjoyed the writing workshops this half term. She was particularly taken with the poetry workshop — and I was SO impressed with the sort of imagery they came up with for the clouds. Thanks so much for the encouraging way in which you inspire them — can’t wait for the next one.  K.B

Conor started attending Helena’s creative writing sessions as a reluctant reader and anxious writer; a boy with a fantastic vocabulary and great ideas but all trapped inside his mind, lacking the confidence or ability to express himself on paper.  He has transformed into an enthusiastic, confident and excited young man with a hearty appetite for reading and an ability to translate his thoughts into written words. Most importantly Helena has given him self-belief in an environment he feels he belongs to where his ideas have value.  Book Club  is simply genius. S.M.

My ten year old son has been going to book club for 4 months and it has transformed his attitude to books and reading. He has changed from a boy who was reluctant to pick up a book to child who doesn’t want to put his book down because he wants to find out what happens next. I can’t wait till my younger child is old enough to go too. G.A.

I think what you do is brilliant, I don’t know what you do or how you do it, but my son loved it. T.M.

The Halloween Workshop was amazing! I can’t wait to go back. C.F.

I had a great time at the Halloween Workshop, Thank you! I am definitely coming again. A.A.

My son had a great time at the Halloween Workshops. I don’t know what your magic is but I have never managed to get thim to write anything much at all, never mind a whole story! And he is reading the book I bought him! A.L.

Wow, you have enthused my reluctant writer!

Quote: “Mommy, if work was always like that, then I’d always want to be doing work!”

Thank you! K.A.

Thank you Helena for introducing a workshop that offers something different. My 10yr old daughter and her friend love creative writing and found this a truly inspirational experience. Loving the stories and having picked up loads of ideas…as well as having lots of fun.. came home wanting to write more and wanting to go back again! S.L.

My daughter (who was 8 at the time) loved her day at the July workshop. She was enjoyed the range of activities and the opportunity to wander around a beautiful setting. I really do think that the day inspired her to try new writers and to read for pleasure as I will often find her curled up on bed at the end of the day . She really has caught the reading bug! A.M.

My son came home from The Story Room workshop today begging to go on the October half term workshops. Thank you. A.S.

I just wanted to say thank you for  the workshop today.

Jack had a really great time. It was good for him to do something different in the holiday other than sports. A.S.

TUTORING TESTIMONIALS

With Helena’s help, my daughter got into Dame Alice Owens last year!  Helena really focussed on the precise skills my daughter would need for the exam and her comprehension and descriptive writing improved enormously – along with her confidence that she could actually do it!  She scored 88% in her Owen’s English exam. I am now sending my younger daughter to Helena to help develop her writing too. A.

After my son’s first session with Helena, it soon became apparent that Helena was no ordinary tutor.  He wanted to go back for more!  He talked animatedly about the fun he had had, whilst proudly showing me the descriptive paragraph he had written.  He continues to look forward to his lessons and with every week, I am noticing more improvementin his literacy skills.  Helena has managed to unlock his creativity and he suddenly enjoyswriting and using sophisticated and descriptive phrases.  He thinks in a different way now. They sometimes go into the garden to look and listen and get inspiration for his writing which I think is fantastic.  Helena has a special talent and I’m so pleased we have found her!

Julie (mother)

My daughter Holly saw Helena once a week during year 5 to help her with her literacy skills (creative writing, comprehension, grammar and verbal reasoning) in preparation for her sitting exams for selective secondary schools.It was immediately clear that not only did Helena have a passion and expertise for teaching but that she knew exactly what these schools were looking for to maximise Holly’s chances of success.

Holly improved immeasurably during a short period of time and Helena kept us informed of her progress, helping us to understand what we needed to do to help her. One of the best things was that Holly’s confidence and self esteem also improved and she adored her lessons.

Holly was successful in securing a place at our first choice school, Dame Alice Owen but also secured places at Haberdashers and St Albans School for Girls.

I cannot recommend Helena highly enough. She is a truly inspirational teacher who has the best interests of the children she teaches at heart and took away much of the stress of the secondary transfer process. I will definitely be booking our 8 year son into one of her summer time creative writing days.

Michelle (mother)

Helena is an excellent and dedicated tutor, she got along very well with my daughter.  With Helena’s help, my daughter managed to get a place at Latymer, Dame Alice Owen School and her dream school Herientta Barnett.  Thanks again Helena, for your hard work!

Rina (mother)

Helena is an amazing tutor who has so much to offer in both comprehension and extended writing and if you take it all in you can become amazing in comprehension and writing in no time at all. Helena’s constantly praise has paid off as i have managed to secure a place at the Henrietta Barnett school. I used to always leave my literacy homework to last but since I worked with Helena I can’t wait to do it!

Lucy (Pupil)

Helena’s lessons have broadened my skills in English and have also given me self confidence. Before I started I hardly ever showed the stories I had written in school to anyone in my class. Then I started with Helena and within a few weeks my writing had improved drastically! She provides a range of fun and interesting activities including reading interesting stories, practicing comprehensions, writing descriptive pieces and talking through poems. There’s no way I would have got into dame Alice Owen without her!

Holly (Pupil)