September 21, 2026
As autumn gets underway, the Take Art Early Years team is looking ahead to an exciting year of creativity, music and learning.
We're particularly delighted to share that Soundwaves: Growing with Little Voices has secured funding to run from January 2027 to December 2029.
This new project is built on learning from our previous Soundwaves programmes and is backed by Youth Music, thanks to the National Lottery via Arts Council England.
Working with children aged 2-5 and the adults who support them, the project will combine creative music-making with mentoring, helping practitioners develop the skills and confidence to embed high-quality, child-centred musical experiences within their settings.
With only 17% of eligible applications receiving funding, we're incredibly proud that this work was recognised for its potential to create lasting impact for children, practitioners and the wider Early Years sector. Youth Music noted that the project demonstrated high-quality early years music provision alongside workforce training and mentoring, with the potential to build skills, confidence and knowledge across the wider sector while creating lasting benefits for children.
While we're preparing for Soundwaves, our Little People Big Ideas project is getting ready to enter its third and final year.
Over the past two years we've been working alongside Youth Music and partner organisations across England to explore creative co-creation with young children, placing children's ideas, interests and curiosity at the heart of the creative process.
Year Two residencies wrapped up this summer and generated valuable learning that will contribute to the national project. This autumn we're excited to begin new residencies in Dorset and Somerset, continuing our work with children, settings and creative practitioners.
Our partnership with Octagon Music Hub also continues this year.
Spring 2027 will see the launch of Building Confidence Using Music in Early Years Provision, a six-session online course designed to support practitioners to feel more confident using music in their everyday practice.
The Hub is also supporting practitioners from Somerset and Dorset to undertake the Level 4 Trinity College London Certificate for Music Educators: Early Childhood, helping to strengthen specialist Early Years music practice across the region.
In addition Octagon Music Hub continues to support Little People Big Ideas through its final year.
It's encouraging to begin the year with new opportunities, new and sustained partnerships and renewed investment in Early Years creativity.
From nurturing Little People Big Ideas to growing the new Soundwaves programme, we're excited to see what the coming months will bring.
Here's to another year of music, creativity and little voices being heard.
Jennie Loader & Jane Parker
Take Art Early Years Team
