Creative Learning in the Early Years: Creative Agent call out

Creative Learning in the Early Years is a joint initiative between the Arts Council of Wales, Early Years Wales, and the Welsh Government and is supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation. This year we are delighted to welcome Mudiad Meithrin on board and look forward to working with many more Welsh language settings

Creative Learning in the Early Years 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.  

Invite for Creative Agents

We are keen to hear from Creative Professionals who may have experience of working with the early years age group (3 - 5 years old).

For this second round of the initiative we are inviting applications from Creative Professionals who are:

• based throughout Wales and are confident communicating through the Welsh language. 
• based in mid and south-west Wales who speak Welsh and/or English. 

If you are interested in working on the Early Years initiative, we would be grateful if you could fill out our expression of interest form here.

Please note, an expression of interest is not a guarantee of work. We welcome applications in both Welsh and English.  Your language preference will not delay any correspondence. 

Also, if you have already worked as a Creative Agent on this initiative, you won't need to complete this form. 

The deadline for expressions of interest is 12pm 25 September 2023

The Creative Agent role

A Creative Agent will:

• act as a ‘critical friend’ to challenge thinking and practice;
• help to diagnose and clarify the key issues and concerns in individual early years settings, looking at priorities and the needs of learners and Early Years Practitioners;
• advise on project planning and project management;
• support effective working relationships and partnership working;
• stimulate thoughts and ideas;
• help early years settings to develop a reflective approach;
• ask questions that will challenge thinking;
• bring a different but related perspective;
• help the early years settings to select Creative Practitioners who will bring appropriate skills to projects;
• help early years settings to meet all monitoring and evaluation requirements.