Turner Contemporary - new resource for Early Years practitioners

Turner Contemporary, the visual art organisation based in Margate Kent has put together a new resource, the Generate Toolkit, designed for Early Years practitioners and those who work with under 4s in playgroups and nurseries.

The Toolkit has been developed by Turner Contemporary in conjunction with staff from Children’s Centres in Margate and a group of Kent based artist/ parents who set up the Generate project in 2007. The aim of the project is to encourage parents and children to make artwork together through listening, sharing and celebrating outcomes. What is unique to this project is re-positioning of the roles of parents and children, with the idea that parents can learn from, and be inspired by their children.

In Spring 2008, the artists ran a series of eight creative workshops for parents and children in St Paul’s Community Centre in Cliftonville. These sessions were developed by Turner Contemporary working closely with Cliftonville Children’s Centre and Sure Start Margate, with funding from Safer Stronger Communities.

This led to a resource pack for staff working with Early Years in Children’s Centres, nurseries and playgroups. The Toolkit contains footage from the workshops and interviews with the artists and Early Years staff involved in running the sessions.

As a follow on to sessions in Children’s Centres and nurseries there are suggested activities for exploring artwork in a gallery with children. Other ‘tools’ include documents covering the principles of the project, eight Activity Outlines for Early Years staff to try out, and information about how the Generate project helps meet Early Years Foundation Stage Targets.

While the toolkit has been developed for professional practitioners, it contains lots of ideas and activities that parents and their children can enjoy together at home.

“It has increased my art and craft knowledge…got me involved with sticking and making stuff”
Chris Pitt, Parent

“I always watch children and think how amazingly open minded and exciting their attitude to creating is and I wish I could be that broad minded… that aspect of children’s creativity I’ve always found amazing.”
Sara Wicks, artist
“When children feel secure they respond much more positively and their learning is much greater.”
Lesley Watts, Manager, Thanet Early Years

This fantastic resource is free to download from http://www.turnercontemporary.org/ and includes information about the Generate project and how to replicate activities and processes.

For more information visit the website or telephone: 01843 294363