Battyeford’s Family Visit to Chester Zoo
Battyeford’s Family Visit to Chester Zoo
Parents as participants in Children's Learning’ is currently being delivered by CapeUK through the Creative Partnerships West Yorkshire Enquiry School Programme.
Enquiry Question - How can we assist parents to co-research their children’s creative learning?
Programme
This project is all about engaging parents in their children’s learning process, developing greater parental involvement in education, particularly creative learning.
Initially all pupils and parents had the opportunity to meet the artist, Samantha Bryan, and see examples of her work and her inspirations during an open day held at the school.
Parents were then invited to join the main family scheme (maximum of 15 places) take up has been excellent - currently the maximum 15 parents are involved in the project. This programme has helped to build relationships and engage with families who have not worked with the school previously.
Through this project the pupils will develop their thinking, visual arts and literacy skills, story settings, development of character and how tools and materials determine choices. Additionally parents/teachers/teaching-assistants will also develop their own understanding and skills. External partner/artist will bring unique individual skills enriching the process for all activities and play.
Families were invited to visit Chester Zoo with artist Samantha to begin a project based on animals/imaginary creatures. All the inspiration from the visits was then brought back into the classroom where Samantha began her weekly sessions.
These weekly sessions are now underway, taking place in school both during school time and at the weekend depending on what best suits the parents. Parents and children are involved in the same creative learning process and are keeping a family learning log book.
"Parents who were then unsure of the process appear to be thoroughly enjoying the practical 'making' of the scheme alongside their child."
Once work is completed there will be an evaluation to see if the programme has impacted on children's achievement in school and in activity in the family home/outside of school. There will also be an exhibition of the creature characters that have been created during this project.
Created by the Children at Battyeford School
