'My Best School Trip' finalist 2020/21: Kingfisher Special School's visit to Gallery Oldham

The project took place over four visits and over the first three sessions the children explored the exhibition Sounds like Her. They completed art activities to respond to the exhibition and were taught a dance by a qualified dance teacher from the Gallery which they then performed on the last session in the exhibition in front of a small VIP audience.

The total cost for the visit and learning was that of transport to and from the Gallery which school funded as an extra curriculum opportunity. The Gallery provided the project without cost as action research for future projects.

Teacher Carrie Ball told us: “The visit linked into the school curriculum around dance and art as well as PSHE. To ensure inclusivity, Sophie Watt, the learning assistant from Gallery Oldham and I worked together to ensure that the activities were appropriate for the level of learning the children were able to access. The dance was designed to ensure all the children could access it.

“Once the children returned to school – they practised the dance routine to ensure they were ready for the performance on the last visit.

 Learning objectives

• To take part in a dance project in relation to Gallery Oldham’s Sounds like Her exhibition.

• To broaden life experiences.

• To learn how to act appropriately in public areas.

• To take part in an art activity through dancing.

Carrie added: “After the visit took place an evaluation was completed and demonstrated that the project was a success as all the children engaged and took part in the provided activities, dance and when asked all enjoyed the project.”