Training for early years practitioners in Nottinghamshire just got much more exciting. We have been extending our already extensive training programme through a variety of setting-based projects. The most ambitious of these has been Create2gether. It took place throughout this spring term, and involved placing visual artists in 19 private, voluntary and independent settings.
The aims of the project were to:
* Build staff confidence and skills in developing a creative approach to practice
* Promote children's self-esteem and build confidence through creative expression
* Encourage collaboration and group work between children and adults
* Involve parents, wherever possible, to promote enjoyment and understanding of children's creativity.
Create2gether was funded from Nottinghamshire County Council's Sure Start grant, and organised by the council's Early Years and Childcare Service manager Helen Crowder and arts and education officer Sue Cole.
Settings applied to be included and one practitioner from each setting agreed to act as link person for the project. In November there was an information and training day for artists, link practitioners and specialist teachers when we explored the concept of creativity through practical activities and discussion.
The focus was on visual arts, with value placed on process not product.
Groups were allocated four planning sessions and ten half-day, practical sessions when artists would work directly with staff, children and, if possible, parents.
Everyone was urged to develop their projects flexibly and imaginatively in response to their own children's needs and situation. Timetables, starting points and ways of recording were all to be negotiated between settings and artists.
Finally, practitioners were armed with a digital camera and 100 budget to help create a visual record capturing the journey of their project.
Bird's eye view
One starting point for Hucknall Day Nursery, working with artist Manya Scarffe, was the children's interest in birds. They wanted to attract more birds into the garden by making a bird sanctuary, and decided that feeders might do the trick. This became a large-scale collaborative activity, with builders trays to mix up nuts, seeds and lard.
The children explored the materials fully, stirring, squeezing and rolling it into balls, before different containers were introduced to fill to make the feeders. The children were excited as they hung the feeders in the garden, and delighted when they observed the birds arrive. This led to taking photographs and making binoculars and a hide-away from which to peep out.
By the end of the project, staff felt more confident about messy play and acquiring the builders trays has helped them provide more opportunities for exploratory group activities. They have learnt new ways to develop themes together, taking their lead from the children, and have seen the possibilities of changing spaces and making new scenes and landscapes.
Cheryl Walker, deputy officer in charge, says, 'As practitioners, we now see the value in mixing more materials and exploring their possibilities.
The bird project is ongoing and as we take it through the different seasons, it will enhance the children's knowledge and understanding of the world.'
Pushing boundaries
Another project that developed creative links between outdoor and indoor learning was at Tiny Steps Day Nursery in Beeston, with artist Kate Rodgers.
This time everything began from a walk which the children were invited to respond to in a myriad of creative ways. First a white sheet was spread across the entire floor of a room where atmospheric music played. The children worked together, recalling the walk, reflecting on their experience and deciding what to use to express their ideas.
'They experimented with the materials and really enjoyed the tactile qualities of the paint,' says Kate. 'They were more creative than I ever could have imagined.'
One child squirted paint on his feet then walked across the fabric. Another said, 'This is a night time painting,' as he printed black circles using the bottom of a plastic bottle.
Another child squirted paint on to paper plates to create marbled patterns and applied this to the fabric with a range of print materials. Later the children used bamboo, wool and natural objects for weaving, which offered them a chance to make a more personal response to their experience.
This transformation progressed with the creation of a den using bamboo and the painted sheet. Fir cones, flowers and leaves were hung inside it to create a wondrous space for role play and storytelling.
By the end of the project, the pre-school room was transformed into an exciting environment full of children's artwork that was free and expressive.
Senior practitioner Rachael Bednall says, 'As a result of this project, we recognise the need to give children more opportunity to choose their creative activities and have access to the materials whenever they want, rather than us storing them and bringing them out when an activity is planned.'
Creative journey
A particular strength of the Prebend pre-school project in Southwell was the participation of parents at every stage. Both artist Annette Waterfield and staff conveyed to parents that they were not only welcome, but integral to the success of this exciting project.
Parents joined in every session and added their comments to the evaluation.
'A floating, fluffy pink experience' was one mother's description of exploring cornflour.
One mother also created a beautiful centrepiece for the story mat, while another sewed together the children's work to create a wonderful applique that will be an inspiration at story time for many years.
The final extravaganza event was supported by everyone. One parent wrote, 'I could see his face during the puppet show, it was priceless'. The inclusive nature of this project also shines through children's comments: 'My Mum and Grandma are coming to see the puppet show. I think my mum will like the fluffy white blanket to sit on to look at the dream cloud, and I will find a chair for my Granma to sit on.'
We look forward to sharing these examples of creative practice with practitioners, through our conference in November and through cluster groups throughout the county. NW
Irene Tipping is specialist teacher, early years, for Nottinghamshire's inclusion support services
Further information
* EYDCP@education. nottscc.gov.uk
