Stuart Dallas opens Poppy's Book Nook

What a truly fantastic day we had on Monday as we welcomed Leeds United Club Ambassador, Stuart Dallas, to Collingham to officially open our new Book Nook.

The excitement around school was palpable from the moment Stuart arrived. He spent time with the children answering their questions in a special Q&A session focused on reading. We discovered some of his favourite books, learned about those that have inspired him throughout his life and heard how important reading has been to his own development. Stuart also shared how he would encourage young people to read and even revealed what former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa used to make the players read between training sessions to keep their minds active and engaged!

The children were fascinated to learn more about Stuart's footballing life too. He admitted that his favourite team growing up was Liverpool and that the player he most admired was Steven Gerrard. Unsurprisingly, this didn't go down particularly well with our resident Evertonian which provided plenty of laughter!

One of the most special moments of the day involved Poppy C. As many of you know, it was Poppy who originally wrote to me last year suggesting that we create a dedicated reading space for children to enjoy at playtimes. Thanks to her vision, determination and passion for reading, that idea has become a reality. In a lovely surprise, Poppy's mum and dad joined us for the opening ceremony. Stuart then presented Poppy with a beautiful sign for the new reading area and announced that, as a lasting legacy to her contribution, it will be known as simply "Poppy's Book Nook."

LUTV were also in school throughout the morning, filming the event and interviewing children, adding to the excitement and sense of occasion.

The Book Nook was formally opened by both Stuart and Poppy, and Stuart was incredibly complimentary about what has been created. He commented that he would have loved to have had something similar when he was at primary school and was genuinely impressed by the space.

We are delighted to share that Poppy's Book Nook will now be open every playtime and lunchtime, giving children a welcoming space to enjoy a book, share stories with friends and develop a lifelong love of reading. We hope it will become a much-loved feature of school life for many years to come.

At the end of the visit, Stuart very kindly stayed to ensure that every child who wanted one was able to go home with an autograph. We were so grateful for the time he gave us and for making the effort to visit Collingham. His warmth, generosity and enthusiasm made the day incredibly special for everyone involved.

Finally, I would like to thank the Friends of Collingham School (FoCS) PTA and all those families who contributed items from the Amazon Wishlist. Your generosity helped transform an idea into a wonderful reality. Poppy's Book Nook is a fantastic addition to our school and will be enjoyed by children for many years to come.

It was a day that created memories that will last a lifetime and one that perfectly celebrated the joy and importance of reading.