Harford Manor School - multi-sensory experience helps pupils find a voice
A collaboration between pupils, staff, a multi-sensory performer and a visual artist has sown the seeds for future creative learning at Enquiry School, Harford Manor in Norwich.
Working with multi-sensory performer Lucy Garland and visual artist Jessica Perry, young people and staff at Harford Manor Specialist School in Norwich have created their own sensory world and explored the use of sensory techniques in learning and teaching. Through storytelling the children have been using their senses to investigate the enquiry question: ‘What can we grow?’
The school identified a group of Key Stage 3 and 4 students who were noticeably less verbal and less socially interactive than their peers. Teachers were keen to engage with this group and help them find the confidence to become more vocal in class groups.
Since the start of the project, this group of students has been engaging in workshops to explore their senses and imagination and has been using storytelling to find their voices. This has lead to the development of temporary artworks for the school to genuinely engage and stimulate the less proactive students.
The artworks have been specially made using original, accessible and easily sourced materials or by re-appropriating everyday objects. For the school it has been important to make sure that the artworks are truly collaborative – created by groups rather than individuals.
Another aim of this project was to encourage staff to learn and understand the methodology behind the processes used in this project, so that they develop their own skills and feel confident to do similar work in future.
Outcomes
- Improvement in pupils’ verbal and non-verbal communications skills
- Group cohesion amongst the young people
- Increased self-esteem and confidence through achievement
- Additional opportunities and enablers to allow less proactive members of classroom groups to express their creativity
As part of Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2010 (NNF10) and alongside their Creative Partnerships project, Harford Manor pupils have been working with artist Ali Mackenzie to create 15 flags as part of a collaborative community art installation displayed throughout NNF10.
In total 60 flags were created for the installation – all designed by community groups such as Harford Manor School and inspired by ideas of change and identity. This May they were seen by thousands of festival-goers.
Pupils at Harford Manor Specialist School in Norwich explore their senses.
