We are delighted to share the news that we have recently been successful in gaining funding from Paul Hamlyn Foundation to continue our caring and creative work in schools across Yorkshire until 2025. We are now looking for a number of partner schools who are interested in co-developing and enhancing their creative and caring approaches in the classroom and across their school.
Our work with partner schools builds on Chol’s Imaginary Communities (IC) approach which has been developed alongside teachers and senior leaders in schools over the last 10 years. IC has proven effective in engaging children in learning across the curriculum, increasing children’s attainment in writing, further developing teacher confidence in playful and arts based practice and pedagogies, and nurturing positive well-being in the classroom.
There will be lots of opportunities for schools across the region to partner with Chol over the next four years so please do get in touch with Vicky if you are a teacher, an artist, or a senior leader and you would like an informal chat about possibilities: vicky@wearechol.co.uk
Here are some opportunities to get involved this year:
Option One: Creative & Caring Partner School
(1 partnership available Jan-July 2022)
This is an Artist in Residence model that includes:
- Weekly visits from an Imaginary Communities Artist to work with teachers and children
- CPD opportunities for all staff via twilight or staff inset training (in person or online options available)
- An extensive CPDL programme for 2 x lead teachers supported by a programme of enquiry-based research
- A final creative report to share the schools learning with colleagues, Governors, and other Creative and Caring schools in the region.
- The opportunity to connect regionally and nationally through Chol’s wider Creative and Caring Schools project.
A little bit more detail …
An Imaginary Community Artist is matched to your school from January to July and will visit the school for one day a week (25 days in total). In the first half term the artist works with one class and their teacher to share the Imaginary Communities practice – this can be in Literacy time to support writing and/or connect to other curriculum areas. The school then works with the artist to identify and develop a new project responding to the school’s priorities and aims. A second lead teacher co-develops this with the artist – this could be for example a families project, or trialling adult supported play on the playground, or a mini project to support a nurture group of children etc. In addition the whole staff team are trained in the approach over the year through CPD sessions and additional print and online resources and materials.
Cost: This partnership is heavily funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation and schools will be asked to provide £1000 match towards the cost of the partnership.
Option Two: Whole School Introduction to Imaginary Communities
(5 available Jan-July 2022)
This offer gives every class in a school the chance to work with an Imaginary Communities Artist and experience an IC introduction lesson. All staff in the school are invited to an additional CPD session (either online or in school) to further support teachers to use more story-making and play within the curriculum. We expect this introduction to take place between 2-5 days depending on the size of the school.
Cost: This opportunity is heavily funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation and schools will be asked to provide £300 match towards the cost of the experience.
