Beyond the page: how the creative arts help children with SEND enjoy reading

What does reading look like when a story comes to life through music, movement, drama or art? And what is the importance of the creative arts for children with SEND?

For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), engaging with stories can take many forms. Turning the pages of a book, recognising a character, joining in with a song or bringing an imaginary world to life through art can all be meaningful ways to explore storytelling.

Create’s our:stories programme brings professional artists into special schools across London, using the creative arts to help children with SEND develop their identities as readers and writers, and discover the enjoyment of stories.

During 2025/26, 179 pupils took part in 96 workshops across eight London special schools, exploring storytelling through dance, drama, music, visual art and creative writing.

Making reading accessible for children with SEND

At The Avenue, a special school in Brent, Create artist Chloe Cooper delivered six weeks of visual art workshops with 15 pupils.

Marzena, a teacher and literacy lead at the school, described how the sessions offered a different approach to learning.

“[These sessions] bring a different perspective from what we are doing in class. They move at a slower pace and allow pupils actually to be creative and messy. Pupils can make their [own] choices and have their opinions. They could express themselves, so the creative arts [were] boosting their wellbeing.”

As the weeks progressed, Marzena noticed changes in how pupils engaged with books and storytelling.

“Throughout the sessions we have seen engagement [with reading and writing] grow. Today pupils were looking at the book, turning the pages, and making noises of [recognition] […] Their confidence grew throughout the sessions, they were happier coming and staying for a longer time.”

For Marzena, these experiences demonstrated how creative activities could help pupils connect with reading in ways that worked for them.

Bringing stories to life through music, drama and art

At Pentland Field School in Hillingdon, 21 pupils with SEND worked with Create writer James Baldwin to explore storytelling through music, drama, collage and sensory play.

Together, they imagined oceans, forests and caves, sang a song called We Are The Writers and created their own original illustrated storybook.

The project culminated in a special sharing event, where the children’s work was displayed and they performed their song for family members.

Reflecting on their favourite moments, participants shared:

“I liked drawing my cave!”

“I loved singing the songs.”

“I liked doing the skeleton dance.”

Through these activities, pupils could contribute to a shared story using their imagination, ideas and individual ways of communicating.

Building confidence and communication through creative storytelling

Across our:stories, teachers observed pupils growing in confidence, developing communication skills and becoming more engaged with storytelling.

The programme’s 2025/26 evaluation found that 94% of participants enjoyed their project, while 100% of partner staff said our:stories enhanced their school’s programme of activities.

Create also delivered creative training sessions with 158 school staff, helping them develop new approaches to reading and writing activities that they could bring into their classrooms.

As the National Year of Reading 2026 encourages people across the country to rediscover the enjoyment of reading, our:stories highlights why accessible, imaginative approaches matter.

For some children, a love of stories might begin with turning a page. For others, it might begin with a song, a drawing or an imaginary adventure.

As one parent reflected:

“Thank you so much for coming and doing this. It’s so wonderful and important to have the opportunity to be creative.”

Create is continuing our:stories in 2026/27, returning to all eight London partner schools to give more children opportunities to explore their creativity and develop their identities as readers and writers.

People Need To Create.

our:stories is funded by St Paul’s Schools Foundation via The Mercers’ Company.