The Department for Children, School and Families has published a booklet "Shakespeare for all ages and stages" outlining the National Strategies, Teaching Frameworks and Learning Objectives across all four Key Stages and broken down into individual teaching approaches from the Foundation Stage to Key Stage 4.

Schools minister Jim Knight said the Bard's work should be enjoyed as much as possible from a young age. He wants "more children and young people to enjoy and be inspired by their encounters with Shakespeare"

"Ringing Endorsement"

S4K sees this guidance booklet as a ringing endorsement by the government of our pioneering creative educational approach to introducing Shakespeare to children of all ages: an approach that only recently has been adopted in the RSC's "Manifesto for Shakespeare" campaign.

Full details of the suggested framework of opportunities and experiences will appear throught the S4K website - including specific links to our forthcoming theatre productions of S4K's ROMEO AND JULIET - THE MUSICAL and S4K's THE TEMPEST - MUSICAL; along with relevant links to our Creative Education Programme.

Julian Chenery, S4K's Founder and Creative Director says "We are absolutely delighted the government believe that 'Shakespeare matters', and that it fully endorses the introduction to and teaching of Shakespeare "across the phases" from Foundation Stage to Year 11. This is without doubt a ringing endorsement of our own work of the past twelve years: not just of our acclaimed theatre company which has presented our easily-accessible musical adaptations to millions of young people both here and abroad, but also the work of our Education Department which has taken our Creative Education workshops to schools across the land."

"There is no doubt that S4K's ROMEO AND JULIET - THE MUSICAL remains the perfect show - even for "children as young as five" - for children and schools of all ages and abilty levels ... and the ideal introduction to Shakespeare."

Shakespeare for all ages and stages aims to enhance the educational experience of Shakespeare for young people by providing a map of opportunities for lifelong learning and pleasure in his work. It supports progression by ensuring that each year and Key Stage builds on what has gone before and helps to prepare for what follows.

The booklet includes a framework of opportunities, suggesting significant experiences in Shakespeare from Key Stage to Key Stage, as well as yearly learning objectives linked closely to the National Strategies' Frameworks.

It contains suggested teaching approaches designed to help teachers deliver learning objectives in lively and engaging but manageable ways. They exemplify active, imaginative and participatory approaches related, where possible, to whole Shakespeare plays.

It offers teachers – from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to post-16 – ideas for working with Shakespeare's stagecraft and language as well as ways in to the historical and theatrical contexts in which he worked.