Tate Learning and A New Direction believe that the curriculum needs to be broad enough to embrace the arts and to reflect and be inclusive of all children. The vision for this project is artistically adventurous and culturally inclusive, resonating entirely with our approach to creative learning. The Tate Year 3 Project is a unique opportunity for us all to do something new, strategic, bold and different with our pupils. It has been thrilling to see the response from London’s schools across every borough, with Year 3 children loving the chance to try out some of the activities included in the pack and explore the themes.
Many teachers have spoken about this project as a way to “empower children to feel more confident and have a sense of pride towards themselves and the local school community,” and for children to "celebrate difference and unity.” This chimes with education research that continues to explore the benefits of cultural learning; from personal and developmental aspects such as confidence building, team-working and social connectivity, to the increase in transferable skills and knowledge.
While this resource provides PSHE, Citizenship, Literacy, Art and Design activities, its principle focus is in starting a wide educational conversation about art and identity, and art as a powerful prompt for braver conversations about how we view and explore the world.
We hope you see in this pack some simple but essential opportunities for pupils to explore art and key current issues relevant to themselves.
Anna Cutler, Director of Learning and Research
Steve Moffitt, CEO, A New Direction
