Enquiry Question: ‘How can we engage and encourage parents to work with the school community to promote creativity in their child's learning?’

The overall theme for the project was ‘The 1960’s, aiming to inspire and engage with children and their families by bringing history to life through music, dance and the visual arts.  Creative Practitioner, Rebecca Hayter, a dance specialist, worked with Year 3 children, parents and staff to create movement and dance related to significant events from the decade (for example; the moon landing, England winning the world cup, flower power, Martin Luther King’s speech…) these movements were then combined with relevant music and images to create a performance piece, which parents were invited to watch.


The project aimed to develop greater parental involvement in creative/learning activity alongside their children; hoping to provide a stimulus for parents to develop their own skills alongside pupils and bring on board parents as volunteers for creative activity.

 

Mrs Catherine Lockwood, Head teacher; “The impact of this project on the Year 3 curriculum and the children was phenomenal.  Highly inclusive and highly engaging, children were absorbed and thoroughly enjoyed sharing exciting experiences with parents and carers."

The Impact of the Project

There have been a number of key impacts of the project, outlined below:

* There has been an increased motivation for extending the learning at home especially with the parents involved in the project

* Children were responsive and motivated to working with external practitioners by having ownership of the outcomes and their learning

* The increased involvement, motivation and enjoyment in learning about the 60's period has seen an increase in the pupil's attainment and motivation for studying History, English and ICT and Art

* The pupils have acquired creative skills via the provision and practice offered by the creative practitioner working in partnership with the teachers and support staff and parents involved in the project

* Teachers feel more comfortable and motivated to use dance skills in their practice the future

* Increased responsibility by the children for working collaboratively and ensuring all that children are involved.

* The school aims to build upon the successes of this project and have already begun planning to ensure its sustainability, intending to include the project in developments for next year’s curriculum planning and also looking for ways to further develop parental and community involvement in the school. 

 

Having established an excellent working relationship with the Creative Practitioner, the school are keen to continue developing this relationship and consultancy to enhance the arts education curriculum across the school.


Project Co-ordinator, Mrs Sarah Riley; “The project has created a real buzz around school – everyone involved has thoroughly enjoyed being creative whilst learning at the same time!”