S.E.N. Schools

This web trailer gives a brief summary of our partnership Community Arts Project with Uplands School in March and April 2010.

Dreambase Studios were commissioned to film the project over the 2 weeks, producing a 30 minute documentary which is to be used as part of the school’s prospectus. The film was premiered at the school during a recent parents’ evening, where everyone was able to admire the artwork in situ, then watch the film to find out how it was all created and put together.

The project was funded by Arts Council England and was organised and run by No Added Sugar. The artwork around the entrance to the school comprises brightly painted circular panels depicting scenes created by those taking part, with the school’s motto, ‘a vibrant and caring community where learning for life is fun’, as its theme. Inside the foyer of the school, a series of square designs create a bright and lively display against the white walls.

The primary aim of our Community Art Project was to produce beautiful art work that represented our whole school ethos of Uplands as a vibrant and caring community where learning for life is fun. I am delighted to say that the art project exceeded all our expectations!

No Added Sugar and their colleagues provided an inspirational journey that engaged all our school and wider community, in a truly inclusive arts project. NAS ensured that all contributions were valued and celebrated, and related exceptionally well to all our pupils, their friends & family, staff and other involved professionals. The responses from all involved were very positive and appreciative of the obvious efforts and hard work of the artists.

We all love the finished art work and all that were involved with thisproject are very keen to start the next project! From all of the Uplands community thank you very much. Headteacher, Uplands School

Uplands school is a welcoming and inspiring place to visit, where we felt privileged to be part of their team for our residency. Headteacher Jackie Smith is full of fun and creative energy which is reflected throughout the whole school. The pupils, staff, governors and wider community embraced the project, evidenced by the amazing collaborative art works they produced during our residency.

We look forward to continuing our creative partnership with this vibrant school.

The art workshops by No Added Sugar are fantastic. Every pupil in the school is able to take part and their projects are a route for pupils to shine and show their creative flair.

To be able to work on such a large scale is rare for us, and Toni and Gordon are able to facilitate these opportunities as well as enhance the look of the school.

We hope to work with Toni and Gordon again soon as their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm inspire us. New Siblands School

Working with New Siblands is always a joyful and humbling experience for us. We are in absolute awe of the teachers’ skills and dedication to their pupils’ needs.

We look forward to our time at the school, which has an uplifting atmosphere. We may go home exhausted, but always laughing.

We have a excellent 3 year partnership with New Siblands special needs school, and understand well the needs of the pupils. Teachers and artists now work intuitively with each other to write projects, which will meet the needs of each individual, including those with profound and multiple learning difficulties.

We are now at the point where we can organise a project by mail and phone, keeping the costs down for the school.

New Siblands’ staff and pupils start with an idea which we all play around with until we come up with a project to fit timescale, budget and pupils’ needs. The level of support provided by the school ensures everything runs smoothly and we all have a great time.

Rowdeford School, Devizes has worked with No Added Sugar on cross-curricular activities with KS3 pupils, and also on the Urchfont Manor summer school. We have found them to be highly organised, very creative and inspirational. They work enthusiastically to stimulate, plan, deliver and evaluate projects. They helped our pupils to make high quality, exciting art work, Including; sculptures, mosaics and murals. Both artists related very well to staff and pupils, including pupils with more challenging behaviour. They are effective communicators and we will definitely use them for more projects this year.

No Added Sugar are a tremendous find! Headteacher Ingrid Lancaster-Gaye

Rowdeford is a wonderful, warm and welcoming school with a lively appreciation of the arts. They have an inspiring Art and Design department where we work in partnership with Julie Lakey, Head of Art. Our creative partnership has led to some new and exciting work with pupils which has included: casting workshops; pupils making individual sculpture; helping to design a large scale sculpture made by the artist; and individual and large scale collaborative work. We are currently planning a new project for July 2010.