The Jolly Postman Learning Programme

THE JOLLY POSTMAN LEARNING PROGRAMME

As part of our ‘Giving Hope through Education’ project, Blake are proud be supporting The Postal Museum in delivering their three-year education initiative, The Jolly Postman Learning Programme, spanning three academic years from September 2016 to September 2019.

The aim of this programme is to raise literacy attainment for some of the most deprived children in London.

Inspired by The Jolly Postman, a much loved interactive children’s picture book by Janet and Allan Ahlberg, this programme links the fictional story to the real history of the post, inspiring creative engagement with reading and raising the literacy attainment of young children.

As a wonderful interactive book all about the magic of sending letters, the Programme brings a whole new perspective on learning, with countless fun techniques and approaches such as the use of rhyme, drama and song as well as engagement with sensory props and a giant version of The Jolly Postman book!

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROGRAMME

As a new museum, it was very important to The Postal Museum that they established great relationships with the schools and communities across London, developing new audiences by building confidence in visiting museums through the excitement of hands on engagement and interaction with original objects.

And so, The Jolly Postman Learning Programme was born – a great success not only helping countless children and schools across London, but also in allowing The Postal Museum to extend their understanding of just how many new and exciting ways the stories in their collection could be used, whilst proving to them how very engaged young children can be with the magic of letter writing!

Engaging an amazing total of 4,376 children between the ages of 4 and 7, 72 different primary schools from 14 boroughs across Greater London, including Barnet, Brent, Camden, City of London, Ealing, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Westminster have taken part in the programme.

Its core aim is to raise literacy attainment for some of the most deprived children in London and inspire a love of reading, writing and sending letters – but that’s not all! As a cross-curricular programme, it also supports learning in English, Maths, Geography, Art & Design and History, not to mention aiding in the social and emotional development of these children.

Over the years, this programme has gained an excellent reputation in the museum sector and, in May 2019, was even shortlisted for the Educational Initiative of the Year at the annual nationally renowned Museums and Heritage awards!

BLAKE DONATE 3000 LETTER WRITING SETS

Here at Blake we are happy to offer our support in this project as part of our mission of “Giving Hope Through Education”. Donating a total of 1000 free letter writing sets in 2017, a further 1000 sets in 2018, and currently producing another 1000 at present – enough for one for each child – we are thrilled to be doing our bit to inspire these children to write letters of their very own!

Here, The Postal Museum shares how much this meant to them:

“We are truly grateful for the support of Blake Envelopes. Your donation has enabled the museum to develop and thrive over the last three years. We are very thankful for this donation of The Jolly Postman letter writing sets beyond the generous financial donations. Your support has enabled us to work with thousands of children and schools across London. Thank you.”