Arnold Nursery School
Arnold Nursery School
Arnold Nursery School is located in a socially and economically deprived part of Rotherham. Many pupils entering the nursery have limited vocabularies and low levels of communication skills. The school wanted to develop language skills through an inspiring exploration of environment and by bringing in parents, in order to better engage them in their children’s learning. With the help of CCE, the school developed a project centred on the development of language, communication and literacy in the school.
The project
The project had three phases exploring sculpture, environment and art. The school began by taking the children and their parents to Yorkshire Sculpture Park, where families looked at and made sculpture together. They continued this work back in the nursery, using the same kinds of large-scale materials as at the Park.
Impact on parents
Many parents have been profoundly influenced by their involvement: one parent comes in regularly now to talk to staff and other mothers are keen to set up their own arts and crafts group. The nursery head feels that creative work is particularly good at engaging parents because it is unthreatening and enjoyable: it makes parents want to have a go themselves, and unlike Maths or Science, no one can feel there are right and wrong ways to do it.
Impact on young people
The project stimulated the development of the children’s vocabulary and language skills. Children gained an ability to use mathematical terms relating to size and scale, and to discuss their work using creative technical terms. Most importantly, communication between children and their parents has improved: families had to negotiate exactly how projects would be undertaken and this led to much richer exchanges between family members than had previously taken place.
Website
creativitycultureeducation.org
—
Arnold Nursery School
—
Many pupils entering Arnold Nursery School had limited vocabularies and low levels of communication skills. The school worked with CCE to develop language skills through an inspiring exploration of environment, bringing in parents, in order to better engage them in their children’s learning.
—
More on Arnold Nursery School
Dream Catcher
—
Dream Catcher is a tool which helps young children express themselves creatively. Children can make their own video and audio recordings, take photographs and keep a blog of their experiences.
—
More on Dream Catcher