Delight in Arts-Based Learning
Leading arts-based learning charity, Delight, believes their transformative approach provides a model for proposed reforms following the recent Curriculum and Assessment Review. Their latest data powerfully demonstrates how collaboration with artists and providing teacher training to deliver programmes results in greater inclusion and increased parental engagement.
Whilst welcoming promises to strengthen creative subjects at GCSE and to embed an ‘enrichment entitlement’ that makes arts education a necessity, Delight - with long-term experience in the field and as a member of the NEU’s Arts and Minds Coalition - is seeking to additionally address provision in the formative primary school years, recognising that teachers may not be used to using arts-based learning across the curriculum as this has not been a part of most routes to QTS.
Delight has spent the last decade developing programmes that not only positively impact children facing multiple disadvantages but also support educators, providing them with the confidence to teach creative lessons and learn the skills to help embed creativity across the rest of the curriculum. In partnership with professional actors, dancers, artists and storytellers, the charity delivers joyful and inspiring sessions. These are specifically designed to level the playing field for all children, particularly those impacted by socio-economic disadvantage and SEND. The sessions encourage aspiration and support mental health and wellbeing.
The results are impressive. Their Impact Report: Levelling the Playing Field, released this week, shows that of children eligible for Pupil Premium involved in the charity’s tracking, 85% showed improved artistic outcomes including participation, creative expression, and independent working. Furthermore, 83% showed improved social and emotional outcomes including resilience, self-worth, pride, confidence, communication, teamwork, and learning engagement. Three quarters of the participating teachers reported feeling confident to teach creative arts, and 91% of parents and carers said that their child talked about their Delight project at home.
CEO and Founder of Delight, Kathryn Mills, said: ‘Many of the children we reach experience a range of challenges including socioeconomic disadvantage, SEND and other barriers to engagement. Our approach is genuinely transformative, both for the pupils and the teachers we support and our programmes have a proven positive impact that reaches well beyond the classroom. It is vital that teaching staff feel empowered to deliver arts subjects in a way that is playful, inclusive and engaging because that is how pupils learn with confidence.
‘We believe that embedding this model in primary education is key to giving children a strong foundation for their secondary years.”
Delight’s programmes are delivered in partnership with professionals and arts organisations and include CPD training and teacher guides to promote skills and confidence. Teachers are also given access to digital resources to help with complex elements of creative arts teaching, such as staging productions. Materials to accompany the programmes are pre-packaged to save classroom time.
Kathryn added: ‘We know from partner school feedback that the majority of teachers would like to have more confidence and skills in delivering creative arts sessions. Our Impact Report shows that our arts-based learning approach can foster joy in the classroom and create a level playing field for pupils while enhancing teachers’ job satisfaction.’
The Surrey based charity currently works with 26 schools and their model of arts-based learning, perfected over a decade, has much to offer national education groups as they prepare for creative subject reform.
The full Impact Report is available at https://delightcharity.org.uk