Clarendon Vale Primary School - Variety Western Australia

The Variety Creative Arts Program pilot was held at Clarendon Vale Primary School from October to December 2019.

Run by qualified Art Therapist Melanie Paul, the pilot focused on twelve children (6 – 11 years old), with a 1-hour Creative Arts session each week, for seven weeks.

The children who participated in the program experience a range of challenges including low self-esteem, selective mutism, learning difficulties, social isolation, aggression, anxiety and the lived experience of trauma.

A range of age-appropriate creative arts-based processes and activities were explored throughout the program, with an emphasis on social and emotional well-being, nervous system regulation, psycho-education, and mindfulness. Activities encompassed visual arts, sensory play, movement, sound, and rhythm.

At the conclusion of the program, each child was congratulated with a certificate of completion. They were presented with a folder of their artworks, a Variety memento, and a selection of resources and art materials to help them to continue to utilise the skills they’d learned in the program, at home.

The feedback from the Program has been very inspiring. Teachers were asked to indicate their student’s progress across a range of areas including classroom participation, confidence, social-emotional well-being and learning.

For some children, there was an improvement across all areas, for others there was a marked improvement in confidence and self-esteem which has been directly linked to improved learning outcomes for those children. They showed more willingness to speak up, contribute and engage in classroom activities.

For one student, who was non-verbal, her teachers commented that she “is starting to speak in a voice we can hear!”.

Some students vocalised a decrease in “big worries” and an increase in “doing great’. They also indicated an increase in productive coping strategies when feeling overwhelmed and a desire to continue the program.

Testimonials

From the teachers perspective

Carolyn Murray – Principal

This opportunity has allowed students ‘time out’ from the frantic pace of the classroom. The small group setting has allowed students to let down their gate and create a safe and happy place to be. They have enjoyed the interactive nature of the sessions.

Leeanne Clifford – S. Support Teacher

Some students seemed relaxed and open during our discussions and one student who rarely speaks was able to really articulate how much he enjoyed the program. I find this has been a valuable experience for me as well, as our school foci are student wellbeing and student voice.

Adam – Teachers’ Aide

I like how some of the kids that probably wouldn’t tell you how they’re feeling on paper just did it straight away. They weren’t embarrassed, they could say ‘this is how I feel when I’m sad’ without being picked on or laughed at. So that worked really well. The boys who I thought might be a bit hesitant about some of the activities just jumped straight in without a worry.

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Run by qualified Art Therapist Melanie Paul, the pilot focused on twelve children (6 – 11 years old), with a 1-hour Creative Arts session each week, for seven weeks.

Carolyn Murray – Principal

Leeanne Clifford – S. Support Teacher

Adam – Teachers’ Aide

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