🎉 Let’s Tell Tales! Celebrate National Storytelling Week 2026

It’s that time of year again! National Storytelling Week is here. The time for imagination, connection and immersing ourselves in the magical power of stories!

Running from Saturday 31 January to Sunday 8 February 2026, this whole week invites families, nurseries, schools and communities everywhere to share tales old and new, from playrooms to libraries to living rooms.

At Cliffe House Training Academy, we know just how powerful storytelling can be in early years settings, especially for those training or working in childcare through childcare apprenticeships in Leeds and beyond. Stories don’t just entertain! They shape minds, build language and spark dreams. Stories grow empathy, vocabulary and enable children to invent new adventures with friends, helping to gain confidence in early readers that lasts a lifetime. That’s why this week is a brilliant chance to celebrate reading, speaking and listening for everyone.

Why storytelling matters (especially for early years)

✨ Early reading starts with stories. Hearing stories read or told aloud helps children recognise sounds, words and rhythms in language long before they start decoding letters on a page.

✨ Sharing stories builds bonds. When an adult tells a personal or favourite story, children learn not just language, but connection – feeling heard and understood, and learning to listen in return.

✨ Listening and imagination go hand in hand. Stories encourage children to picture fantastical worlds, empathise with characters and think about what might happen next. These skills support creativity and comprehension as they grow.

These everyday storytelling moments are a core part of quality early years practice and professional development.

🏫 Storytelling Week Fun in Early Years Settings

Here are some activity ideas that work brilliantly in nurseries and early years classrooms – perfect inspiration for apprentices and practitioners alike:

🎒 In your setting:

Storytelling Circle Time – Sit in a cosy circle and take turns sharing favourite stories or inventing a group tale together.

Random Story Bags – Fill a bag with props or characters; children pull them out and craft a narrative around them. Surprises make the best plots!

Puppet Theatre – Let children create and perform their own puppet shows. Puppets make storytelling feel playful and fearless.

Painted Story Stones – Rock painting meets storytelling: pick a stone and weave it into a tale.

Role Play Corner – Turn part of your space into a mini stage or castle and let imagination take the lead.

👪 Get Parents & Families Involved

Strong partnerships with families are a key focus for anyone training through a childcare apprenticeship, and storytelling is a wonderful way to build them.

Invite Guest Storytellers – Ask parents or carers to come in and share their favourite story. This could be from a book or a story about their own life. It’s brilliant for intercultural learning and family pride.

Story Chains at Home – One person starts a sentence, the next adds to it, and so on around the dinner table, walk or car journey.

Tell a Tale With Everyday Objects – Pick three random household items and challenge your child to craft a story connecting them.

Story Jar Prompts – Fill a jar with picture prompts (a dragon, a tree, a castle…). Pick one and let the imagination flow!

📍 Storytelling Events in Leeds

Leeds is buzzing with storytelling magic this season! 🎭 A great source of inspiration for early years professionals, apprentices and anyone considering childcare apprenticeship Leeds opportunities.

📖 Leeds Central Library

As part of the city’s celebration of reading and stories, Leeds Central Library is a hub of activity around storytelling through the Leeds Storytelling Festival lasting from 14 Feb to 8 Mar 2026.

This city-wide celebration brings interactive sessions, creative workshops, author talks and performances perfect for families and children.

🎉 CBeebies Read and Rave – 16 February 2026

One especially magical event for early years and families is CBeebies Read and Rave. Join CBeebies stars for a live BBC CBeebies Bedtime Story, but with a twist: it’s time to dance and celebrate the joy of storytelling together, not just listen! This free, family-friendly session runs in multiple sessions and is ideal for under-fives and adults alike.

And don’t forget your local community hubs like The Leeds Library, Rawdon Library, Farsley Library, Bramley Library or Chapel Allerton Library – many host story times and reading activities throughout the year too.

🌟 Make Every Week Storytelling Week

While National Storytelling Week gives us a special spotlight, the magic of stories is a superpower we can use every day. Whether you’re cuddled up with a book, acting out an adventure with socks and spoons, or sharing a funny memory at bedtime, you’re building language, connection and a lifelong love of reading. These skills are at the heart of early years education and childcare training.

So go on… tell a story today! 📖✨