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Children's Story Competition 2026
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Children's Story Competition

“What I Love”

For writers aged 7 to 11

Opens 20 April 2026 | Closes 15 June 2026 at 5pm
That’s the spark. A grandparent’s hands. A scruffy dog. A view from a hill. A city at night. Whatever makes your character’s heart feel full, that’s the story we want to read. It could be an object, a place, or a person. The only rule? Your character has to really love it. That feeling, that warmth, that ache, that joy, is where the magic lives. Stories must be no more than 500 words. Big feelings fit in small spaces.
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Prizes

The story that wins first place will also be recorded live by professional storyteller Sita Brand and streamed live to schools across the country as a part of Settle Stories’ #FridayStoryClub series.

The school with the most pupils entering will also win a term’s subscription to Stories for Schools.

Every single entrant receives a participation certificate, because every story counts. You could also win:

Jonathan Douglas CBE

Chief Executive, National Literacy Trust

Jonathan leads one of the UK’s most respected literacy charities, reaching over 1.4 million people a year. An Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, a Booker Prize Advisory Board member, and a children’s librarian at heart. He knows a good story when he reads one.

This Is the Real Thing.
And Your Class Deserves It.

There’s something that happens when a child knows their writing will be read by someone beyond their teacher. The care they take. The detail they reach for. The pride when they hand it in. This competition gives your pupils that feeling, and gives you the satisfaction of watching them rise to it.

Entry is simple. No forms, no faff. Just a name, your contact details, and their story. You can submit as many entries as you like from your class, and every child receives a certificate in return.

Whether it’s a class project, a homework task, or a quiet creative moment, this fits naturally into your week. And if you’d like a little help getting started, our free planning worksheet pack is ready and waiting.

Home educators and parents are warmly welcome too. If your child has a story to tell, we’d love to read it.

  • English (Writing) Narrative composition, character development, choosing vocabulary for effect, editing and redrafting for a real audience.
  • English (Reading) Exposure to model texts, understanding how authors create mood, exploring how emotions are conveyed through language.
  • PSHE & Wellbeing Exploring what we value, expressing gratitude and love, understanding identity and what makes us who we are.
  • Oracy & Communication Sharing and discussing story ideas verbally before writing, listening to peers, putting feelings into words.

Classroom Ideas

  • Start with a circle time question: “What’s one thing you love so much it’s hard to explain?” Share answers and let the conversation run. Use it as a brainstorm before any writing begins.
  • Read a short extract where a character loves something deeply. Ask: what words does the author use? How do we feel it? Use this as a model text before pupils write their own.
  • Give pupils five minutes to freewrite from a prompt: “The moment I knew I loved it was…” No crossing out, no stopping, just flow. Then share, discuss, and shape from there.

Homework Ideas

  • Ask pupils to bring in, or describe, one object they love. A photo, a drawing, or just words. Use it the following week as the jumping-off point for their competition story.
  • Pupils interview a family member: “What did you love when you were my age?” They write a short story inspired by the answer. A lovely way to connect generations and themes at the same time.
  • Use the planning worksheet to map out character, setting, and that central feeling before drafting. First drafts in class the following lesson, with pupils arriving full of ideas and ready to go.

How to Enter

0.1
Write the story
No more than 500 words. Theme: “What I Love.” The writer must be aged 7 to 11.
0.2
Add the details at the top
Child’s first name, class, and school name. Teachers include their own name and email. Home entrants include a parent or guardian’s name and contact details instead.
0.3
Send it in
Email to competition@settlestories.org.uk or post to: Settle Stories, The Joinery, Dawson’s Court, Settle, Yorkshire, BD23 9ED.
0.4
Deadline
Monday 15 June 2026 at 5pm. Late entries cannot be considered, so don’t leave it to the last minute

Ready to Enter Your Class?

Download the free worksheet pack and get started. Every child who enters receives a certificate, and one of them could win a £100 book token and the chance to have their story performed to schools around the country.

Your school could win a term’s subscription to Stories for Schools. All it takes is a story and a click (or a stamp).

competition@settlestories.org.uk