Emerging Themes

During the process of my inquiry into the accessibility of the creative arts in primary years I discovered themes using different research methods. These methods included interviewing professionals in education and the creative industries, a qualitative survey and collecting data from books, news articles and the internet. 

The key themes running through my report:

The accessibility in and outside of educational settings

The benefits children gain from participating in the arts 

The benefits disabled children gain - social, emotional and physical development

The effects the pandemic has had on the creative arts

Health and well-being 

Social mobility 

Curriculum imbalance 

A few of these themes were familiar to me, however it was great to uncover some grey areas in my research which helped to improve my knowledge on the topics surrounding my inquiry. Firstly, I was made aware of social mobility through 'The Sutton Trust' a UK based charity passionately working towards making inclusive communities. 

Social mobility is the moving of individuals, families, or groups up or down the social ladder in a society. Social mobility is often used to describe changes in wealth, but it can also be used to describe general social standing or education.

Social mobility is important as it gives children equal opportunities to good educations. This strongly relates to my inquiry as children have limited access in and outside of school to the arts if they come from low income families. By combating social mobility and creating that access the divide between classes will close, allowing children from all different backgrounds to share the same educational experiences. 

I also gained new knowledge from an interview with a singing teacher who has a great amount of experience teaching children with disabilities. She explained the benefits they gain from participating in the arts and that her own sister who had downs syndrome was able to build her language, communication and muscle strength through singing. 

I was shocked and sad to see that there has been a monumental rise in reported cases of children with anxiety since the pandemic began. Dr Pooky Knightsmith talks about the creative arts helping heal children and speaks about the numerous health benefits children gain from participating in the arts. 

One of the themes that kept coming up with teachers was the lack of funding for schools, therefore having a knock on effect to resources and specialist teachers. Most of the teachers I interviewed agreed that there was a curriculum imbalance and that they felt pressured to meet the standards of Ofsted, therefore the arts are have been pushed aside so teachers can get there students up to the governments standards. 

It is so important that we continue to advocate for the arts and create a society where the arts are accessible to everyone. Children need to be exposed to the creative arts for the sake of their health, development, future successes and happiness!