Keir Hardie Primary School, Newham implemented Artis sessions for their Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) children in Key Stage 1 (KS1) and Key Stage 2 (KS2). The aim was to engage and empower children through arts-based activities, adapting creative teaching to the children’s learning styles, and creating a safe environment for self-expression. The impact and evaluation of the Artis sessions were assessed through observations and feedback from teachers and pupils.

The Artis sessions showed clear progression across SEND groups from Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), through KS1 and KS2. In EYFS, children focused on rhythm, syllables, and sound, which helped them memorise key vocabulary. They also engaged in solo dances, so they have opportunities to perform, and were exposed to vocabulary through storytelling. This resulted in improved pronunciation and understanding of key words in context for English as an Additional Language (EAL) children. In Year 1, children clapped syllables in songs and words in sentences to develop rhythm and sentence structure. In Year 2, children focused on acting and role playing, using loud voices, facial expressions, and projecting their voices like actors.

Impact of Artis Sessions:

The Artis sessions had several positive impacts on the children, including;

• Improved Attention, Focus, and Participation: SEND children were able to wait patiently for their turns, which also improved their listening skills.
• Increased Confidence: Children, including EAL children, gained confidence in themselves through the Artis sessions. The safe environment created by the teacher encouraged them to express themselves and project their voices.
• Improved Vocabulary and Oracy Skills: Children were able to understand, consolidate, and apply key vocabulary in context during the Artis sessions, which also improved their vocabulary choice and clarity of pronunciation. They used different tones of voice, gestures, and facial expressions to impersonate characters, leading to improved oracy skills.
• High Level of Self-Assurance: The Artis sessions resulted in increased self-assurance among children, who were more willing to take the lead in conversations and participate in other creative activities, such as school performances.

Case Studies:

Two case studies highlighted the positive impact of the Artis sessions on individual children:

“Child A is EAL and due to this she could not verbalise her needs clearly and had difficulty in following simple instructions. Before the sessions Child A was a shy quiet child who lacked confidence and social skills. Since the Artis sessions Child A has really gained confidence in herself and we have noticed in class that her confidence and listening skills have improved. She tries her hardest to communicate her needs and does not shy away. She has really enjoyed participating in the Artis sessions and takes an active role during these sessions”.

“Before the sessions Child B was a timid quiet child who lacked some confidence and social skills. She would very quickly get upset over trivial matters and have not much gumption to bounce back to resume her learning activity. Since the Artis sessions Child B has really gained confidence in herself and we have noticed in class that her listening skills have improved and she is more willing to take the lead in conversations. She is demonstrating her gumption during situations she finds difficult.

She has really enjoyed participating in the Artis sessions and we have noticed her volunteering for roles such as the Christmas Nativity play which before any Artis participation she was reluctant to do so. Her participation in story mapping has improved considerably as she has become less self-conscious and therefore more willing to join in with actions”.

Conclusion:

The Artis sessions at Keir Hardie School had a positive impact on children in EYFS, KS1 and KS2, including SEND and EAL children. The sessions improved attention, focus, and participation and increased confidence and self-assurance, and improved vocabulary and oracy skills. The safe environment created by the teacher allowed children to express themselves and engage in various activities, leading to overall positive outcomes for the children.

Artis at Keir Hardie is kindly supported through match-funding