Blurring the lines between construction, sculpture, artisan and architectural design, we created a space that is practical and beautiful, and all in just seven days during the half term break! Featuring a quiet room ( inspired by treehouses) a’ peace deck’ ( pick out the words in the architecture) and numerous surprise and delight features, the ‘Walk of Words’ is a valuable new inspirational addition to the school facilities that will inspire a love of words.

There are unused spaces in most schools that with a bit of creative consultation with the school community can be transformed into something magical that will extend and enrich the curriculum. We believe spaces provided for learning should reflect high aspirations and demonstrate care and respect for the people who are going to use them.

The deign and build of the ‘Walk of Words’ has had an immediate positive impact on the school community putting smiles on many faces. We will be working with teachers and children on creative literacy workshops to facilitate them taking complete ownership of the space and to help them use the space to it’s fullest potential.

Working through a creative process and executing ideas that transform a negative space into something inspiring requires a clear vision, teamwork and sheer hard graft.

Working on a project of this nature, where creativity, problem solving and intense physicality blend can produce moments of zen like focus, during one of these moments I paused to reflect and appreciate our hands. Hands are like feet, we use them all the time, often unconsciously, but they are amazing.

Hands communicate, they create and shape our world and help to make our lives what they are, this short film is a tribute to them!

Two  year 6 classes went through a thematic immersive  learning process based on the five senses. A series of five one day sensory learning encounters inspired excellent classroom based teaching and learning throughout the half term period. The project  had a positive impact on literacy standards sending assessed levels on an upward curve and enriching the whole curriculum.

For Sight  we had a Jackson Pollack workshop exploring the relationship between the way we see colour and texture. Touch / smell, aromatherapy and reflexology, Taste, a food based tasting game show and a smoothie making workshop and for Hearing, the children made radio broadcasts that helped them reflect on their learning and create persuasive adverts to inspire their peers about learning through sensory experiences. Children used digital tools to create papercraft animation, shadow puppetry, radio broadcasts, short films and green screen presentations to demonstrate and share their learning and understanding. This integrated approach uses digital creativity with great results and helps makes the whole process enjoyable and gives the learners the opportunity to actively lead their learning.

The children also organised a sharing event for parents and families where they prepared a senses workshop and shared their various films and podcasts.

Over two days the adventures of Ted, the classroom bear inspired creative learning with great results in phonics and design /construction and everything else!. The children were planning a teddy bears picnic when Ted went missing!

Using simple a green screen film the children were set a challenge by Ted, could they rescue him in time for the teddy bears picnic? Part 1 of the film was a great stimulus with children exploring solutions and deciding to make boats, rafts, canoes etc and discovering lots of new simple words in the process.

The design challenge involved testing their craft in the water play area and lots of science about floating, sinking etc. Part 2 of the film concluded the session with a great resolution, worth watching for inspiration and of course the epic drama!

The doors are on a new learning centre designed to provide more opportunities to bring people closer to nature and offer a base for outdoor learning.

This short film and poem is inspired by our encounter with a wonder of the natural world and a meeting with a truly remarkable tree.

The Majestic Oak

The wise Majestic Oak standing tall

Seeing, listening, inspiring, inviting us to see

The simple, unquestionable truth.

Does she possess everything?

Everything we need to understand

The world around us, who we are, who we can become?

Her roots, bark and branches are

The skills, knowledge and values we

Aspire to acquire, to live in harmony with.

The wise Majestic Oak standing tall,

Never judging, never demanding, never questioning

Just being, the simple unquestionable truth.

‘Give me the right word … and I will move the world’ -

Joseph Conrad

Children are at the forefront of the technology revolution leading us into an exciting new learning landscape. Audio broadcasting is an innovative and exciting way for them to improve their literacy skills and share their digital creativity with a worldwide audience.

Year 6 pupils at Greenacres Primary in Tamworth, used the audio editing software Audacity to create podcasts, reflecting on a recent ‘Sense-ational’ project exploring the human body through sensory experience based learning encounters.

During the project they did abstract painting (sight), aromatherapy /reflexology ( smell /touch), invented new smoothie recipes (taste) and created soundscapes and podcasts (hearing).

Listen to one of their tracks here:
Smoothie Rap

Queen Victoria Primary School in partnership with Pablo Productions Ltd has been developing innovative and effective ways to enrich the curriculum over the last 2 years.

During this time there has been a significant improvement in engagement, achievement and standards and the teaching team have developed creative practice that is making learning irresistible!

This coaching session will share the leadership, methodology and evaluation strategies that make this learning programme so successful with lots of practical tools and top tips to take away and use.

To book a place contact Cheryl on 01384 812545

Some children disregard food groups because they have a preconceived idea of taste . Taste or Twerp? encourages children to sample foods whilst blindfolded!

This whole class session is an imaginative way  to explore touch, smell and – of course – taste! Children are completely engaged and inspired to read, write and speak and listen about their experience.

Taste or Twerp? is a fun and educational way for children to broaden their horizons on healthy and tasty foods. This workshop is part of a series of creative learning encounters that explore the human body as stimulus for literacy and independent thinking skills.

Contact us for further information about dynamic curriculum enrichment, development and staff coaching.

As part of a current design and build project in a primary school, we are close to completing a new eco learning centre for children, teachers and families.

The new building will be an excellent base for outdoor learning and forest school activities. The whole curriculum will be enriched with Maths being delivered through Fibonacci principles and science lessons on the roof!

This project is part of an ongoing scheme of work called ‘Nature Knows Best’ which is an excellent example of making the most of the wonderful learning opportunities afforded us by Mother Nature.