Earlyarts - your children are amazing

Earlyarts E-Bulletin No 2 - Summer 2003

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Welcome to all colleagues in arts or early years (or both), and apologies for the second e-bulletin coming a little later than planned.  All submissions on current activities and practice in your settings / organisations are welcome. Feel free to use this e-bulletin to promote your work and request artists / advice / support from other readers across the region.

Earlyarts network update:

1. The earlyarts Web Site is now being designed and content collected, and will be available at http://www.earlyarts.org.uk/ when it goes live in the autumn. One of the younger children at an Early Excellence Centre in Bury designed a fantastic logo for the site, and lots of children have designed images for inclusion in the various sections. We are also planning to record work in progress so that site users can see the different approaches to working with children through different art forms.
2. The content will include information on international, national and regional practice and policies as well as case studies, teaching support materials, and a huge links section to see how others do it. Practitioners and policy makers will have the chance to discuss and debate issues each week, and to post their own requests for staff, artists, materials or other resources needed on the bulletin board. Content from partner organisations is being collected via a questionnaire (attached) to provide links to the site, profile your work, and share information and resources. Information is welcome on all organisations or individuals working in arts or early years.
3. The online Early Years Artists database is in the first stages of design, based on the national online database for artists in schools, run by Visual Associations (formerly AXIS - http://www.smudgeflux.org/ ). The main difference being that the artists' profiles will feature the methodologies and practices used in their work with children and teachers / practitioners, rather than focussing on the particular artworks made by that artist. The art forms will also cover performing and literature arts as well as visual arts. We are currently seeking artists across the north west willing to be part of the pilot project, who have a track record of work in early years settings and can provide references and evidence of police clearance. If any of your artists might be interested, please ask them to contact us on 01484 688407. Their profiles and images from the pilot project will automatically be included in the full online database once it goes live at no extra charge to the artists.
4. The earlyarts Champions Group has met regularly to steer the project and discuss issues critical to its success. A list of Champions Group members is attached. Members have been able to work with the DfES Sure Start unit, the QCA early years unit and OfSTED's early years team to look at the interface between policy and practice, and how one can influence the other. For instance, QCA have recently launched their new online resource for primary teachers on integrating creative practice across the whole curriculum (see Partners' Bulletin Board below). The Champions Group has been able to contribute to the emerging early years aspect of this resource by providing case study examples of where creative practise supports the delivery of the foundation stage.

Emerging Issues and articles of note:

1. Margaret Hodge MP is promoted to Minister for Children in the reshuffle amidst much controversy - http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,9061,988492,00.html
2. From education to the arts, Estelle Morris is given a second chance - a good omen for relationships between the education and culture departments? http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,3605,977243,00.html
3. The Arts Council of England has published a comprehensive guidance pack ‘Keeping Arts Safe' for anyone and everyone working with children in the arts:
4. Additional Guidance on disclosure practices required for initial teacher training: http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/docbank/index.cfm?id=2172
5. Nothing To Do With The Arts but nevertheless a Right Riveting Read highlighting the lack of political priority given to children and childcare: http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,971675,00.html
6. By Comparison, an example of the high political support afforded creative early years learning in Italy: http://zerosei.comune.re.it/inter/reggiochildren.htm
7. Things that Artists Should Know about Working in the Early Years Sector - a brief resume of the networks, publications and contacts which may be of support to artists.http://www.beetroot.org.uk/earlyyears.pdf

Regional Partners Bulletin Board:

• Stef Portersmith of the Hattersley Development Trust needs two artists to deliver a Creative Learning project at Early Years HQ, Pinfold Primary School, Hattersley during the summer holidays for 5 to 12 year olds. The project is designed to fit with the children's school curriculum learning and the theme will be Ecology. The children have chosen arts and crafts and dance as their art forms. There will be an element of consultation with the children to set the aims and objectives of the project and it is hoped their will be some product at the end that the school can benefit from - but all this can be negotiated. Funding is secured. The artists need to be experienced with children and police checked, insured and able to provide references. All enquiries to: stephanie.portersmith@hdt.org.uk
• The Arts Council England, North East in collaboration with the Sightlines Initiative for arts and early years, is organising an arts and early years national conference ‘Celebration and Challenge' at The Arc in Stockton, October 14th and 15th. The programme will include a national exhibition of exemplary creative projects in the early years; presentations, seminars and interest groups that exemplify innovative early years practice and create a platform from which to build national approaches; approaches that recognise, celebrate and support children's natural intelligences, capacities and opportunities for expression in all the diverse contexts of UK early childhood environments. Attached is the flyer to promote the event within your organisation, or click here for details: http://www.sightlines-initiative.com/sl/celebrationandchallenge.pdf Click here for the application form: http://www.sightlines-initiative.com/ - click on events - application form at bottom of page, or contact sightlines directly on 0191 261 7666.
• The Arts Council of England North West is organising the ‘Permission to Think' conference for the 13th October at Manchester Town Hall. This will be a major conference about contemporary issues in education and learning, for anyone involved in this field. The programme will look at new ways of learning, gathering intelligence for the sectors, valuing thinking and how this is reflected back into educational practice. To find out more and book online, click here: http://www.networkingthearts.co.uk/alnw/events.html
• QCA has launched their online resource for teachers ‘Creativity: Find it, Promote it!' The site aims to support teachers in promoting pupil's creativity and understanding how different creative practices can help children learn. The site demonstrates tasks to stimulate pupil's imaginations and creative learning across key stages 1,2 and 3. The next stage is to investigate creative thinking and behaviour for 3 - 5 year olds. Contributions, case studies and queries are welcome from all arts and early years settings. Contact Karen Blackshaw of the QCA Arts and Design Team, T: 0207 509 5625. www.ncaction.org.uk/creativity/
• The Coram Family are pleased to have reached the stage in the Listening to Young Children project where they need to expand their team. They are currently looking for a Development officer to work alongside Penny Lancaster, the original researcher and author of ‘Listening to Young Children'. Attached is an advertisement, please contact Cressida Jenkins for the job description and person specification for anyone you may know would be interested in this position. T: 020 7520 0357. E: jobs@coram.org.uk.