Introduction 

Starcatchers is delighted to be working with the Scottish Government and Dundee City Council Early Years to deliver our innovative Creative Skills training programme in 2019/20.

Creative Skills is Starcatchers’ unique artist-facilitated training programme. We give early years practitioners, educators and others who work with babies and young children the confidence and skills to put expressive arts at the heart of practice in ways which improve wellbeing and can be used to support closing the attainment gap.

For young children to develop a sense of agency and fulfil their rights, they need responsive adults who tune in to their interests with a playful and creative approach. You are their inspiration and we want to develop your skills and confidence to inspire new thoughts and ideas that will help improve outcomes for the children you work with.

Creative Skills is about more than just the sharing of ideas – it’s about investing in Early Years practitioners as people and recognising that creative responsive adults are the most valuable “open-ended resource” our children need.

Starcatchers Creative Skills approach shares open ended ideas and techniques designed to give babies and young children a voice – engaging them in decision making, offering opportunities for self-expression, and respecting them as active agents in their own lives. We take an asset-based approach: our artists are experts in the expressive arts for young children, our participants are experts in their own setting and the children they work with, and babies and young children are experts in what interests and motivates them.
Participant Feedback from 2014-18:

"I have thoroughly loved the experience. All the artists have been so helpful, inspiring and have made each experience so simple to adapt."

"this course is packed with stuff that you know will work"

"I believe everyone working with children should attend a Starcatchers course."

"It’s been really magical…it’s lifted me and reminded me what our jobs are really about."

"This needs to roll out to everyone who works with children."

Question Title

2018/19 Participants taking part in a music and visual art session

<span style="color: #3366ff;"><em>2018/19 Participants taking part in a music and visual art session</em></span>
The Dundee Creative Skills sessions will be taking place on Thursdays at Mitchell Street Centre, Mitchell Street, Dundee, DD2 2LJ.

These are full-day sessions from 9:30am-3:30pm. The dates as follows:
  • Thurs. 24th October 2019
  • Thurs. 7th November 2019
  • Thurs. 28th November 2019
  • Thurs. 12th December 2019
  • Thurs. 16th January 2020

Question Title

2018/19 Participants taking part in a music session

<span style="color: #3366ff;"><em>2018/19 Participants taking part in a music session</em></span>

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