23 January 2024
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Training
Booking now live for Primary Arts
A new creative, cultural programme for London primary schools - and the entire programme is free of charge!
A New Direction is delighted to launch Primary Arts today, a new creative, cultural programme for London primary schools. To support schools in these challenging times, the entire programme is offered free of charge and is available to all year groups from Reception to Year 6, as well as to primary SEND settings.
Primary Arts offers free access to high quality, inspiring cultural and creative opportunities for your children and staff. From in-school performances and free tickets to arts events for your classes, to free training opportunities and creative activities for your staff, Primary Arts will help unlock the creative potential of teachers and children as well as providing opportunities to support staff wellbeing and personal development.
The Primary Arts pilot consists of a menu of opportunities which will take place between March and June, and your school can choose which parts of the programme it is interested in joining. Details of the different offers and how to book for them are given below:
In-School Touring
Your school can enjoy a free performance in-school for the whole of one year group from one of our creative partners Animate Arts, Apples and Snakes, icandance, Little Angel Theatre or Musiko Musika. With opportunities in visual arts, poetry, inclusive dance, puppetry theatre and South American music, the performances can take place between March and May and are supported by an in-school workshop for pupils, teacher CPD, books, materials and classroom resources.
Find out more about In-Schools Touring
Masterclasses
For school staff, we’re delighted to offer opportunities to support professional development. In partnership with the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, we’re offering a series of four free Masterclasses, between March and June, focusing on creative approaches to reader development. The masterclasses will focus on planning creatively using texts, visual literacy, fostering a culture of reading for pleasure, and poetry.
Find out more about Masterclasses
Come & Try
To support staff wellbeing, we are offering a series of free hands-on twilight workshops with the Crafts Council, between March and June, to explore a variety of areas of craft such as pottery and textiles for your own interest and enjoyment.
No prior experience is needed for any of these sessions, which will be suitable for complete beginners as well as for those interested in rekindling past interests. We aim for these sessions to be fun, supportive and enjoyable, as well as beneficial to your creative classroom practice.
Find out more about Come & Try
Go & See
Through our range of creative partners, you can take your class to amazing cultural experiences for free, from music, theatre and dance to galleries, museums and heritage sites, both locally and in Central London. Support with transport costs is available for SEND settings. This opportunity is also available for school staff to access free tickets to cultural events for your own personal use.
We expect places for Primary Arts to book up quickly so we would encourage you to sign up promptly to secure your place. We very much hope to welcome you and your class to our Primary Arts pilot programme. If you have any questions, please contact schools@anewdirection.org.uk.
Download full brochure
