We're delighted to celebrate the beginning of autumn season with some good news! We are happy to announce that we've been successful in our bid for 3 years of funding from Youth Music to continue our creative work with children under 5 years old.
The fund will support a new project, called Little People Big Ideas, which takes place in Somerset and Dorset and sees Take Art taking a deep dive into Early Years (EY) creativity and co-design, working collaboratively with children and their families, EY staff and artists. Following a development phase, four selected EY settings will host artist residencies for sustained periods of up to one year.
This programme places children aged 2 – 4 year olds at its centre. It's funded by Youth Music from September 2024 – August 2027, with additional funding and support being provided by Somerset Council, Dorset Council and Somerset and Dorset music education hubs.
In addition to continuing its partnership work with early years providers in these local counties, this project provides an opportunity for Take Art to work closely with Youth Music and ten other partners across England to develop and influence early years creativity on a national basis.
“We are thrilled and delighted to be part of this pioneering grant programme and are very much looking forward to sharing innovation and learning through the national partnership network. This recognition of our on-going passion for, investment in and development of early years cross-artform creativity is really appreciated.”
Jennie Loader, Take Art Early Years Project Manager
Further details will be announced as the project develops through the autumn term.
Take Art’s SoundWaves Network SW
Forthcoming Early Years training events
Our Youth Music funded Early Years music programme continues into its extension year, which includes delivering projects with early years settings in Southampton and Bournemouth and delivering CPD across the South West region (and beyond!). Upcoming CPD opportunities include:
Nurturing your Early Years Music Provision - in person
4.00 pm – 6.00 pm Monday 23 September 2024 - Mansel Park Primary School, Culver Close, Southampton SO16 9HZ
Subsidised CPD training - £7.00 per person
To book your spot please click here.
Led by Take Art’s Early Years Music team Jane Parker, with Vicky Trevithick and Hayley McDonnell this training will support you to:
- Gain skills in developing young children’s musicality through appropriate rhymes and songs
- Consider the role of music within all areas of EYFS provision
- Identify young children’s spontaneous music making and reflect on the role of the adult
- Gain confidence when engaging in and leading music activities
Please join us for this friendly, supportive and interactive training. Refreshments provided.
Building Confidence using Music in Early Childhood - online
7.30 pm – 9.00 pm Tuesdays: 15 Oct | 22 Oct | 5 Nov | 12 Nov | 19 Nov | 3 Dec |
For details and booking click here. Often a sell-out, we encourage you to sign up swiftly if you wish to join in. Some subsidised places are available.
"I have loved this course! My understanding of the importance of music for early years has grown no end. I would definitely recommend it to any of my practitioners if the opportunity arose again. Thank you."
EYFS Pre-School Manager
MERYC Conference 2024 – in person
Sat 9 Nov, Newcastle University
We are delighted that both Susan Young (SoundWaves Network SW evaluator) and Jane Parker (Take Art) will be jointly presenting ‘A systems approach to early childhood music education across the South West’ based on our current Youth Music programme. Come and join them for a day of sharing research and practice with colleagues from across the country and beyond!
Booking now open, click here to reserve your spot!
This one-day early childhood music conference will offer a mix of presentations, workshops, and opportunities for discussion on what we are learning from young children under five years old, their families and caregivers about music, and music education in today’s world. We're looking forward to exploring together what might be effective approaches for listening and making music with children to support and mentor musicality in practice.
Early Years Creativity workshops with Yeovil College
Wed 20 Nov 6.15pm - 8.30pm, Yeovil College
The first in a series of workshops at Yeovil College where Take Art early years artists will encourage all those who work in early years settings to explore creativity. In this first workshop, Richard will lead us through group activities designed to encourage creativity on a larger scale, collaboration, imaginative play and three-dimensional creativity.
The evening will start with food and discussion before commencing into the practical workshop. This series of workshops are primarily for early years settings in the Yeovil area. Please contact Fiona.Pavey@yeovil.ac.uk for further information.
We're looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming events and trainings. To keep up to date about everything Early Years and get notified about upcoming opportunities, make sure you follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram and keep an eye on our website.
Jane Parker & Jennie Loader
The Take Art Early Years Team