VIEWS & OPINION
Engaging children in the arts is fundamental not only to children, but to
society as a whole Comment by VICTORIA POMERYOBE, Director, Turner Contemporary
At Turner Contemporary, we believe in the power of creativity to transform people and places, doing things differently to achieve our vision, “Art Made Essential”. Since opening in 2011, Turner Contemporary
has become one of the most successful galleries in the UK. We’ve achieved more than 3.4 million visits and the gallery has been a catalyst for the regeneration of Margate. Central to this success is our commitment to challenging
traditional gallery practice to make ourselves more accessible. Rather than telling people what to think about art, the gallery has developed an enquiry-based approach where adults, children and young people can lead their own learning. We consult with a practical philosopher and our learning team are all qualified in Philosophy for Children. Inspired by the belief that we are all experts in something, we bring
people together to learn from each other, and through artists’ work and ideas. Our approach acknowledges that children see and encounter the world in ways that are mostly beyond the reach of adults, offering
valuable perspectives. These perspectives deserve to be seen and heard. Building on its significant expertise in developing children’s leadership
through the arts, Turner Contemporary is now delivering Pioneering Places East Kent: Ramsgate, part of the Great Place Scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund and supported by Historic England. 60 children, known as Young Arts and Heritage Leaders, from two
primary schools in Ramsgate, have recruited artists and heritage researchers to work with them. They have collaborated with the Turner Prize winning collective Assemble to create a toolkit which aims to inform planners, decision makers and those in the education and creative sectors about how children can positively contribute to place making. They created a brief to invite artists to produce a new work for Ramsgate Harbour, and shortlisted three artists to interview from the proposals received. Following this, they appointed artist Conrad Shawcross. They have now started working with him, to develop a major artwork which will be installed by July 2020. This is an ambitious commission, with children at the heart of the
process using a very different model compared to a conventional schools’ project. Children and young people are central to the long term regeneration of Ramsgate. Their attitudes and engagement with heritage and culture influence their networks now, and will influence generations to come. They are uniquely able to motivate adults in their community to connect with their local heritage. Pioneering Places East Kent: Ramsgate will demonstrate a truly
pioneering process of child-led community engagement and commissioning. Its success will impact future cultural and urban regeneration in Thanet and beyond. Working with ambitious artists and designers in this unique way, we will inspire cultural and heritage sectors in the UK and internationally, providing a deeper understanding of how culture and heritage can inspire each other and bring about positive change.
It’s time to recognise the important role schools play in tackling child mental
health issues Comment by DR MARGOT SUNDERLAND - Director of Education and Training at The Centre for Child Mental Health, psychotherapist and award-winning author.
It will come as no surprise to anyone working in education in 2019 to read that schools are facing rising numbers of children and young people reporting difficulties with their mental/emotional health. The Government’s first ‘State of the Nation’ report on children’s wellbeing last month – published to coincide with World Mental Health Day – found that nearly one in five young people are unhappy with their lives. 7,000 young people aged 10-24 participated in the report, which also found that those who receive extra
support at school or have a long-term illness/disability are more likely to report bullying. In a landscape of cuts to public services, schools have been rising to
this challenge and providing therapeutic interventions to support children with complex needs and adverse childhood experiences. At the Centre for Child Mental Health (CCMH) and Trauma Informed Schools UK (TIS UK), we strongly endorse the statement in the 2017 Government Green Paper Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision that, “There is evidence that appropriately-trained and supported staff such as teachers, school nurses, counsellors, and teaching assistants can achieve results comparable to those achieved by trained therapists in delivering a
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www.education-today.co.uk
number of interventions addressing mild to moderate mental health problems (such as anxiety, conduct disorder, substance use disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder). ” It’s incredibly important that we publicly applaud all of the schools and
organisations that have embraced this new challenge by investing in appropriate training for key adults in schools to support children, young people and their families. In today’s culture of austerity, chronic underfunding and teacher shortages, CCMH and TIS UK want to showcase these schools in order to inspire other establishments across the country and create a more positive environment. In 2020, we will host our very first award ceremony - open to the
public – in order for the winners to share their superb work, as well as demonstrate best practice in terms of mental health support in schools. The award-winning schools recognise that their support and interventions are fundamental in enabling children and young people to not only achieve the best learning outcomes, but to grow into confident, resilient and emotionally healthy individuals. We passionately believe that these schools and organisations deserve
recognition for fully understanding that schools are now places of not just learning, but healing. Schools can apply by demonstrating that they have met a range of mental health and wellbeing-focused criteria – and are marked on evidence, awareness, emerging practice and embedded practice. The overall score determines whether the school is deemed ‘Mentally Healthy’. All four of our awards involve rigorous assessment of the work carried
out by the schools, with comprehensive assessment forms and onsite visits from Educational Consultants to observe a typical school day and speak to staff, parents and pupils. Following this visit, schools receive detailed reports highlighting their strengths as well as areas for development.
To apply for a Mentally Healthy School Award or a Trauma and Mental Health Informed School Award, go to
https://traumainformedschools.co.uk/awards.
For further information on stress, child mental health and training please call 020 7354 2913 or visit:
https://www.childmentalhealthcentre.org.
November 2019
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