"Leaping Imaginations" is an early years project developed by darts in partnership with Doncaster Early Years Service and Creative Partnerships, Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham.
Five artists practising across a range of art forms worked in 20 early years environments such as playgroups, preschools and private day nurseries to increase creative opportunities for very young children and to expand creative approaches taken by practitioners.
The artists worked closely with key practitioners in the setting, first observing, then delivering 4-6 creative sessions to share their work, followed by action planning with the staff to design a programme of activity.
Early Years Practicioners from across Doncaster were able to access training opportunities through geographic network meetings, a one day conference and through evening training sessions held at The Point.
The artists worked in close partnership with the consultant teaching team to deepen and sustain the impact of the project.
Key outcomes included...
Practitioners working in new ways:
"It has been a very valuable experience as it has enabled the children and staff to access a range of activities which we would never have thought about."
Work in settings has become more child led:
"We also listen to the children more and let them lead with their ideas"
"It has given staff greater confidence to try new things and to take initiative from the children."
Confidence of the practitioners and children increased throughout the project:
"Having the artists in our setting for a year has encouraged us to evaluate our working practices and our surroundings. Now that we are more relaxed and confident in planning creative activities for the children we feel that they have more opportunity to develop their own artistic ideas/talents."
The consultant teaching team fed back that:
Working in partnership with the artists has shown practitioners new and easy ways of engaging children. Working with a team of artists from a range of art forms has widened the children's experiences and "practitioners have had their eyes opened to possibilities and opportunities". Practitioners have developed in confidence and this has "enabled children to explore their own creativity, rather than produce an 'end result'".
Working with artists has enhanced CLL:
Opportunities for Communication, Language and Literacy have been enhanced and broadened by participation in the project.
Children have heard a wide range of "new vocabulary" and "lots of language used by the artists and staff in describing, discussing and evaluating the work done". The child led focus of the artist's work, where "children's opinions were asked for and valued" has meant children are using their "own ideas to explore creativity". This has resulted in "the importance of sound being raised" in settings and in some "a chance to join in conversation with an interested adult".
Working with artists has enhanced approaches to exploring PSE:
Working with the artists has broadened and enhanced practitioners' approaches to exploring Personal, Social and Emotional aspects of learning. The child centred approach has encouraged children to try new things, to have the confidence to have a go and led to increased self-esteem. In sessions children have been involved in "group activities, turn taking, sharing and working co-operatively".
Through modelling creative approaches artists have shown ways of enhancing adult and child interaction and "relationships with adults have been strengthened".
Training both out in Childrens Centre areas and at The Point (home of darts) have been a great way of sharing the learning and techniques on the project.
Consultant teachers felt that much of the training which had taken place during network meetings had been embedded into practice:
"Training has been an important part of the project and has been really valued by all the practitioners attending the sessions". It has "reinforced what artists have been doing in the identified settings" and has led to an increase in confidence amongst practitioners.
Practitioners said:
"Making the story up from the box really made my imagination run wild"
Teacher attending Extending Role Play workshop
"It was practical, so I tend to remember things more if I have done them myself"
Practitioner attending Sensory Movement Play workshop
"It was all brilliant, very good ideas that are excellent for early years practice-this is how music should be delivered in the foundation stage"
Foundation Stage teacher attending Musical conversation workshop
"This has been a very enjoyable, useful workshop. All the leaping imaginations workshops have been excellent, the best course I have ever been on. I look forward to any that follow"
Practitioner attending Visual Arts Workshop
What's next for Leaping Imaginations?
Creative Hubs
A number of settings will be selected by the consultant teachers to work towards becoming creative hubs. These will be selected from settings that took part in phase 1 and have shown strong commitment to the project. These "creative hubs" will be a network of practitioners and settings who are committed to putting creative practice in early years at the heart of their own practice. Each consultant teacher will have 1 creative hub within their area to ensure that the partnership between artists and consultant teachers is nurtured and to ensure that training opportunities enable the widest access. These are being selected in partnership with the consultant teaching team.
There will be fewer settings selected than in the initial programme, but they will receive more support and resources. Each of the artists will take lead responsibility for a number of these settings. A training and delivery programme will be developed based on the individual needs of each setting, the focus would be established in partnership with the Consultant teacher and Early Years Service.
In each of the settings a mentoring relationship will be established with key practitioners and their lead artist. The settings will then take on a key role in championing the use of creative practice in Doncaster, offering increased access to exemplary practice, mentoring other settings and being key settings to train new practitioners in.
The key practitioners and artists will form a creative hub, meeting and working together to influence the use of creativity in early learning.
Training
A range of art form skills and creative training will be delivered across all areas, training will be delivered mainly through the Children's Centre network meetings- this should ensure that training is well attended and will be supported by the Consultant teachers. Each of the Children's Centre areas will receive a number of sessions of training per term. These sessions will be advertised at the beginning of the academic year and will be open to all Foundation Stage and Pre-School Practitioners.