darts was invited by the Primary Strategy Manager for Doncaster, Kate French, to work with a network group of four primary schools to explore ways of using the arts to approach the Speaking and Listening objectives in the renewed Literacy Framework. The main focus of the work was to be teachers' professional development. This was achieved by pairing the teacher with an artist to plan, deliver and evaluate the work. The project used a variety of art forms to deliver its aims; drama, movement and visual arts (sculpture and mosaic).
Some schools in the programme took a whole-school approach with all teaching staff receiving direct training from the artists and one-to-one creative surgeries. In the creative surgeries, the teachers explored with the artist the opportunities to use the chosen art form to deliver the speaking and listening objectives through the curriculum.
The feedback we received from teachers was excellent. Here are some examples:
"Through allowing children the opportunities to speak and listen in a range of situations it stimulated those children who in a normal situation would struggle."
"Although we have all come at it from a different angle/stage of expertise the outcome has been just what we wanted."
At the heart of our work is partnership work; artist and teachers, arts and education. darts is increasingly keen to forge links with current education initiatives and agendas that local and central government are launching. If you want your school to deliver its agenda in a creative, challenging and sustainable way then please contact darts to explore the potential of partnership work.