The project was set up in response to the authority's baseline assessment scheme and feedback from early years practitioners, which showed a need to develop local children's speaking and listening skills.
The project also aims, through storytelling, to develop children's vocabulary, improve their concentration and encourage children to work together.
Under the project, Mary Medlicott combines training for all practitioners through storytelling sessions and further training at individual early years settings. Each setting also receives Mary's storytelling 'cookbook', an aide-memoir. To date, 38 settings have taken part.
'The storytelling project has really stimulated the children's imagination and interest in books,' says Carole Pochetty, Alan Pullinger Playgroup manager. 'It's also encouraged parents to get involved and the children to bring in books, and on the back of the project we started a programme of going to the library.'