Create's environmental project with SEND students

environment:matters

“SEEING HOW ENGAGED THE CHILDREN WERE THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT WAS TOUCHING AND A STARK REMINDER OF WHAT THE CREATIVE ARTS CAN DO FOR OUR WELLBEING.”
the rise partnership trust (manor school and the avenue school)

THE PROJECT

environment:matters is our project providing SEND children with access to high-quality, interactive, collaborative creative arts workshops exploring the theme of “the environment”. The project was designed and delivered in collaboration with teaching staff at SEND schools to enrich their arts provision and is led by participants’ voices.

Using a variety of artforms, the project enables SEND children to improve their understanding of environmental issues while developing their social and creative skills and enhancing their overall wellbeing. The project is designed to address the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:

3. Good Health & Wellbeing

4. Quality Education

10. Reduced Inequalities

12. Responsible Consumption and Production

14. Life Below Water

15. Life on Land

The project culminates in a sharing of the participants work, celebrating their achievements and challenging expectations and assumptions of what is possible for SEND children.

THE NEED

At a national level, the need to enhance arts provision for SEND children is well evidenced. An Arts Council report notes that, regarding students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), there are “very different levels of access to different art forms or cultural experiences among disabled and non-disabled students and young people”.

There is also an urgent need to educate children on environmental issues: only 4% of UK students feel they know a lot about climate change (SOS-UK, 2018), and 71% of adults say learning about climate change should be part of the school curriculum (YouGov, 2020).

We are committed to our environmental responsibility and believe that the creative arts is an effective tool for encouraging climate action. You can learn more about our environmental commitment here.

A stop motion film made by Create artist Linda Mason, showing participants taking part in our environment:matters project at Livity School, South London