How dance, drama and art are helping Surrey children learn with confidence

Surrey charity Delight is helping thousands of children discover the joy of creativity through dance, drama, art and storytelling, while giving teachers the confidence and skills to make creative learning a bigger part of school life.

Thousands of Surrey pupils have enjoyed taking part in dance, drama, art and storytelling programmes to boost their learning and wellbeing thanks to arts-based learning charity Delight.

Delight have spent the last decade developing programmes that not only positively impact children facing multiple disadvantages but also support educators, providing them with the confidence to be able to teach creative lessons and learn the skills to help embed creativity across the rest of the curriculum.

Working with professional actors, dancers, artists and storytellers, the charity delivers joyful and inspiring sessions specifically designed to level the playing field for all children, including those with SEND.

The sessions encourage aspiration and support the mental health and wellbeing of all children, especially those impacted by socio-economic disadvantage.

CEO and Founder of Delight, Kathryn Mills, said: “Surrey is often perceived as an affluent county but many of the children we reach experience a range of challenges including socioeconomic disadvantage, SEND and other barriers to engagement.

“Our approach is genuinely transformative, both for the pupils and the teachers we support, and our programmes have a proven positive impact that reaches well beyond the classroom.

“It is vital that teaching staff feel empowered to deliver arts subjects in a way that is playful, inclusive and engaging because that is how pupils learn with confidence.”

Delight believe this also gives pupils a strong foundation for their secondary years. A Department for Education Curriculum and Assessment Review has promised to strengthen creative subjects at GCSE and to embed an ‘enrichment entitlement’ that makes arts education a necessity.

The charity is also working with teachers to give them the specialist training, skills and confidence needed to help achieve this.

Kathyn added: “We know from partner school feedback that the majority of teachers would like to have more confidence and skills in delivering creative arts sessions. An arts-based learning approach can foster joy in the classroom and create a level playing field for pupils while enhancing teachers’ job satisfaction.”

Delight offers programmes for various ages with content that aims to broaden horizons, develop personal wellbeing and social and emotional resilience to improve their engagement with learning.

To find out more about Delight, how to support its work or how your school could get involved, visit delightcharity.org.uk.

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