Creative Learning in the Early Years: call out for childcare settings

Building on the success of the last year, we are delighted to announce a further opportunity for non-maintained early years settings working with children aged 3 – 5 years to be part of the well-established programme Creative Learning Cymru.

Creative Learning in the Early Years is a joint initiative between the Arts Council of Wales, Early Years Wales, Mudiad Meithrin and the Welsh Government and is supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation. It brings together Early Years Practitioners and Creative Practitioners to explore ways of developing learning environments and experiences that can stimulate the development and natural curiosity of children aged 3 – 5.

The initiative has three aims:

• to bring together Early Years Practitioners and Creative Practitioners to explore ways of working in non-maintained early years settings, to create environments and experiences that are rich in language, play, physical development, arts, creativity, and will support children as autonomous learners.
• to understand the central role of creativity and play in a child’s development. 
• to combine the central principles of the Curriculum for funded non-maintained nursery settings with the Creative Habits of Mind pedagogy, and learning from the Lead Creative Schools Scheme.  

What the offer will entail

• The initiative will begin with a one-day face-to-face training course and a half-day online training course delivered by Arts Council of Wales, Early Years Wales and Mudiad Meithrin with additional reflection and networking opportunities.
• The online half-day training will take place during the week commencing 20th November 2023. The face-to-face training will take place during the week commencing 5th February 2024.
• Each setting is matched with a Creative Agent to design a creative learning project which will explore the six principles of the initiative.
• The Creative Agent will support their setting to recruit a creative practitioner, who will co-deliver the project with Early Years staff over a 10 week period, working with the 3 – 5 year old children in that setting
• There is a mid-point training session for the lead Early Years Practitioner from each setting.
• A final collaborative celebration and sharing session will take place at the end of June 2024.

Funding and support

Each setting will receive 4 days of support from a Creative Agent.

Each setting will receive a grant of £2500 to cover the cost of employing a Creative Practitioner for an equivalent of 7 days, and the resources needed for the project.

Each setting will receive £125 plus travel expenses to cover the cost of one member of staff, (the lead Early Years Practitioner in the project) to attend training during the week of 5 February 2024.

Eligibility

Creative Learning in the Early Years is open to non-maintained settings working with 3 – 5 year olds.

To be eligible to apply your setting must be:

• a registered charity with a voluntary managed committee and CIW registration for childcare
• a member of Early Years Wales and/or Mudiad Meithrin
• offer Early Years Entitlement

How to apply

Expressions of interest closes at 5pm 4 October 2023.

If you have any further queries, please contact:

Creative Learning Team – creative.learning@arts.wales  

Moya Williams, Early Years Wales - moyaw@earlyyears.wales

Helen Williams, Mudiad Meithrin - helen.williams@meithrin.cymru