arts extend

Arts Extend

Arts Extend was a national pilot funded by Arts Council England in 2007 that ran in nine local authorities across the country and involved more than 60 schools. Eastside was commissioned by the City of Westminster to deliver the only pilot in London for Arts Extend working with six schools in the borough, including an early years centre, three primary schools, an academy and a special school. Extended schools (schools that provide additional activities from 8am - 6pm) help to deliver the aims of Every Child Matters: a government initiative calling for all organisations involved in providing services to children and young people to work together towards five key outcomes. Eastside led a consultation with the pupils, teachers and parents at each of the participating schools. The resulting programme included a range of high-energy arts activities as well as workshops more suited for contemplative study. 250 children and 50 parents took part in the pilot programme which included; storytelling and drama workshops (involving parents and children working together), Bollywood dance (where secondary school students developed their peer mentoring skills working with pupils from neighbouring primary schools), feltmaking workshops, poetry, rap, art and ceramics. The success of the programme was due to careful consultation at every stage. Eastside worked closely with the family liaison units at each school to build on, develop and extend what was already being provided. Arts Extend has also helped to inform Eastside's extended schools provision, which runs London-wide and now includes study support, family learning and parents' workshops. It also provides a varied menu of after school activities including drama and dance, music tuition, arts and crafts and visits to museums, galleries and theatres - all of which give parents the opportunity to explore the arts in school, working alongside their children.