RADIO DRAMA HELPS STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS EXPRESS THEMSELVES

changing:minds is Create’s multi-artform project for pupils with special educational needs (SEND) in Harrow. The project is designed to give the children and their teachers access to the benefits of high-quality creative arts activities.

For six weeks between April and June 2024, Create artist James Baldwin delivered radio drama workshops at Shaftesbury High School (SHS).

We spoke to Elisa, a teacher at SHS, about the main benefits of changing:minds for the participants, and the longer-term legacy of Create’s work at the school.

“My group of students has been taking part in a radio drama project for the last few weeks. Our theme has been around diversity and being different. First, the children took part in drama activities, which helped them to bond as a group and get comfortable with each other. Then they created characters that explore and celebrate being different. They created a really colourful and beautiful collage, but also a radio drama using their recorded voices.

The project has helped their wellbeing because it has given them space to make themselves vulnerable and open up.

“Having that space to make yourself vulnerable, but feel confident at the same time is really important.”

WHAT SKILLS DID THE YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP?

“It’s helped with their social skills. They’ve definitely bonded more as a group. They feel comfortable enough to laugh with each other.

“For our students, it’s quite difficult to have new people to come in and work with them. So, the fact they’ve been attentive and have followed instructions, and felt comfortable with you, has been really beneficial. It’s a very positive thing that they were engaged and willing to take part, and that they were all in a space where they [were] ready to learn and focus.

And then the confidence they found when speaking and the power in their voice has been such a positive takeaway.

“They were really confident when they recorded their [radio drama] piece towards the end of the project. It’s hard to like the sound of your own voice, but watching them today, I think they were all pleased with it. There wasn’t any silliness or anyone saying ‘you sound silly’. It was just really positive. It’s the little things like that, that really matter. That’s why this project is so important and very beneficial.”

the benefits of creativity

It helps their communication, it makes them feel valued, it gives them a sense of belonging, and a way to express [themselves] in a space where they feel safe and accepted.

“They have enjoyed being creative because it’s not structured. They’ve produced everything themselves. It’s their own ideas, it’s their own expression, it’s their own thought process.

“I can think of a thousand things to say as to [why it’s important to be creative]. I’m really passionate about creative arts for young people and particularly for young people with SEND.

“It helps their communication, it makes them feel valued, it gives them a sense of belonging, and a way to express [themselves] in a space where they feel safe and accepted. And I think that’s what this project has been all about and that’s why it’s so important.”

HOW CHANGING:MINDS HAS BENEFITED SHAFTESBURY HIGH SCHOOL

“I would say that [Create] are vital to our school. It’s a wonderful project and we’re so lucky to have access to what you do and the different variety of what’s on offer within creative arts. And to work with professionals. You’re so skilled and in tune with SEND children and you know exactly where and how to pitch everything. It’s so niche, but you really know how to do what you do and it’s been fantastic. It would be very sad not to have you come in and work with us every year. It truly is a huge, huge benefit to our school.

“I loved some of the drama games and I’ve actually stolen a few of those [for my own teaching], because they were really good. And they really resonated with the children because they were going on about it all week. It made an impression.

“[changing:minds has] given them access to things they wouldn’t normally do. That’s what’s really good. That’s key.”

WHAT IS THE LEGACY OF CHANGING:MINDS?

“I think the legacy [of the project] is the impact. You’ve just got to look at the children and what they’ve produced week on week and how they’ve built on knowledge and skills and I think that’s it right there, to be honest.”

changing:minds was funded by John Lyon’s Charity.