Young Poets Week is a wonderful chance to help children discover that poetry is not just something they read in class. It is a way to express feelings, explore ideas and share their voice with others. The week links beautifully with the National Literacy Trust’s Young Poet Laureate programme, which supports young writers across the UK.
About the Young Poet Laureate Programme
The Young Poet Laureate programme invites children aged 7 – 14 to submit an original poem. Entries are reviewed by the National Literacy Trust and a shortlist is created for each region. From this shortlist, 12 young poets are selected. The chosen poets receive mentoring from a professional poet, take part in online masterclasses and are invited to perform their work at special celebration events.
The programme is open, welcoming and designed to give young writers confidence, no matter their level of experience. Everything is clearly explained on the National Literacy Trust website.
How to Take Part
The steps below are based directly on the official information provided by the National Literacy Trust on the webpage you shared.
- Visit the Young Poet Laureate page on the National Literacy Trust website.
- Download the free resources available on the page. These include writing guides, inspiration sheets and useful information for teachers and librarians.
- Use these resources to run a poetry session or workshop in your school or library. You can also share the resources with families.
- Encourage children aged seven to fourteen to write and submit a poem by following the online submission process on the webpage.
- Once submissions close, keep an eye on the website for updates on the shortlist announcements and online celebration events.
For full details, visit the official programme page here:
https://literacytrust.org.uk/programmes/young-writers/young-poet-laureate/
Creative Ideas to Make Young Poets Week Exciting
1. Secret Poem Wall
Ask students to write short poems without their names. Display them around the library and let others guess the poet before revealing the authors at the end of the week.
2. Poetry Quest
Create small clues that guide children to poetry books or themed corners of the library. Each book they find contains a word or phrase that they collect and later turn into a poem of their own.
3. Live Poetry Moments
Host a lunchtime event where students read short poems aloud or record short videos that can be shared on a school platform. This creates a supportive public moment for young writers.
4. Character Poem Clinic
Write short notes from fictional characters asking for advice. Students respond with poems. Afterwards, reveal the character and show where to find the book in the library.
5. Poem in a Box
Students create a small scene inside a shoe box that represents a poem. Display the boxes in the library and let visitors guess the poem before lifting a flap to reveal the answer.
6. Librarian Poetry Spotlight
Create a display that shows your favourite poems or quotes that inspire your work in the library. You can also include a “behind the scenes of library life” section that helps students appreciate what librarians do.
Why These Activities Matter
Poetry helps children explore language, develop confidence and express emotions in a safe and creative way. When librarians provide space for young writers to experiment and share their voice, poetry becomes a joyful experience. These activities help children feel seen, heard and proud of their creativity.
How 247lib.com and Hedgehog Can Support Young Poets Week
247lib.com
This cloud based library management system is ideal for school and public libraries that want strong support for themed weeks and creative events. It offers:
• An online catalogue that helps students search for poetry titles at home or in school
• Easy creation of poetry themed reading lists
• Simple reservation and circulation tools for busy events
• Reporting options that highlight which poetry books are borrowed most often
Hedgehog
Hedgehog is perfect for primary schools that need a friendly and simple system. It includes:
• Quick cataloguing for poetry books and small collections
• Easy issue and return features for classroom use
• A clear interface that helps children choose books by cover, genre and topic
• Light reporting tools to help teachers track reading engagement
Both systems reduce the workload of organising themed activities and free librarians to focus on inspiring students during Young Poets Week.
Discover More
Find out how Hedgehog and 247lib.com can help you promote non fiction reading, streamline your daily tasks, and give students more ways to learn and explore.
Visit www.247lib.com to learn more or get in touch with our team for a friendly chat about how we can support your library.
