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By accessing the creative arts in the classrooms and through our work with specialist arts teachers, we seek to provide real balance for our children and open up the world of imagination and self-expression. As each specialist focuses on the integration of a particular discipline, visual arts, drama, dance, and music are brought to life.

     

Our mission is to provide stimuli that inspire, to observe and, in turn, to be inspired in a continuous cycleEmma Rattigan, Principal

Creative arts in early years

Our Infant Community and Children’s House classrooms are host to a huge range of creative arts stimuli. From birth to around the age of 6 our children are in their formative years and are constantly seeking to make sense of their surroundings through hands-on interaction. Appreciation of the aesthetic is introduced through beauty and order within the environment and a plethora of sensory exploration. Working collaboratively with our Montessori teachers, our specialists provide guidance to enhance the children’s expression through their ‘100 languages’. Both Infant Community and Children’s House have a session with the dance specialist each week. Music, art, and drama happen every day in the classrooms.

    Creative arts in elementary

    In the Elementary, children’s formative and explorative experiences, as well as their familiarity with a range of expressive techniques, allow them to integrate the creative arts into their daily work. For example, Elementary children plan how to illustrate projects, construct pieces of creative writing, dramatise their own writing or that of others, and create rules for outdoor games. Each afternoon is spent working with specialist teachers. Often inspired by classroom interests, and fed by themes such as The Great Stories, the elementary children explore a range of ways to demonstrate their knowledge.

    Music

    Children explore musical rhythms, instruments (including voice), notation and composition in large and small groups. They use music to interpret other aspects of the curriculum, for example through investigating world music, the history of music, and famous composers. Private tuition is also available from our music tutor in piano and violin.

    Yoga and Dance

    Through moving to music, children develop their sense of rhythm, balance, and coordination. They engage in different ways of moving their bodies to express themselves as well as learning about different movement qualities, directions of movement, and spatial and body awareness. Yoga helps the children to learn to control their movement and also promotes mindfulness.

    Drama

    Drama is an exploration of the unique way in which humans communicate. In both real life and imagined fictional situations Drama allows us a vehicle to safely explore our thoughts and feelings, our reactions to and understanding of the worlds in which we live.

    At EMAS Drama is a child-led activity working with children’s thoughts, feelings and ideas through a range of drama strategies and techniques to support development of children’s:

    • Powers of creative expression
    • Decision making, problem solving and critical thinking skills
    • Understanding of self and the world
    • Self confidence and self esteem
    • Empathy

    Drama also includes development of theatre practice in performance and presentation, often linked to work in Music. With an emphasis on joyful engagement, EMAS Drama supports learning in Expressive Arts and across the curriculum.

    Visual arts

    Children are introduced to a wide range of media and techniques, both two-dimensional and three-dimensional. By gradually building on their skills, children become confident in selecting and implementing whichever techniques they feel are most suitable for expressing their ideas. Art in context is also studied, for example artists, world art, and visits to galleries.