Resident Artist: Nursery

I have been Hadfield Nursery's resident artist for 10 years, working alongside staff, children and families. Having completed a BA in 'Working with children in the early years' I have a special interest in supporting children's creative development and finding ways to support young children through developmental or trauma based difficulties. I support individuals to communicate their needs through therapeutic creative and art based play. I am a HCPC registered Art Therapist supporting children throughout children's services. As a working artist I recognise the creative potential in all children.

Drawing, painting, creating and making

Self expression helps a child make connections with their inner and outer worlds through making their ideas and learning visible in the artwork or image. Engaging in a variety of art activities, learning new techniques and skills and using new materials encourages creative responses and new ways of thinking. Young children soon get to know the mediums they like best that does the job they need, selecting and making preferences is empowering.

'My aim is to support children in developing and extending their creative potential and offer staff support and inspiration in finding ways to do it as inclusively as possible, adapting the activity or materials provided to suit the needs of the child in their explorations of the world.

'The child has a hundred languages, a hundred hands, a hundred thoughts......' 
Loris Malaguzzi (Founder of the preschools of Reggio Emilia)

Supporting creative and imaginative minds
Children use all their senses to learn about their world and explore possibilities with a range of resources and opportunities. Experiential learning is key to my work with children of all ages and abilities. Talking through and sharing ideas about the process of creating and making increases cognitive thinking and understanding.

Discovering new materials, building nests, rolling eggs, talking about birds and flying


Big Painting Outside
Working outside and upright with paints offers a new experience for the children. Favourite stories are always a good starting point for collaborative paintings. This mural was on ongoing project where words and drawings were added together later. 6ft x 4ft

Using a variety of different size brushes and starting with an exciting coloured background on which the colours will vibrate and come alive provides a new painting experience.

Children's first mark making experiences with pens pencils and paints can establish positive learning experiences that will stay with them for life and contributing to their disposition for learning.

Lets make it fun and exciting… wizards and witches, processes and kings

Magic wands as storytelling props for making wishes and casting spells. Winding and twisting- choosing colours and fluffy bits, add feathers and sparkly threads.
Working together alongside the child, to demonstrate and model activities and teach new skills is an important part of our journey to discovering ways of expressing our creativity.


Creativity is an essential part of our development it helps us learn and love life.





Preparing the environment and planning for the activity is an essential part of the process.
Carefully selected and presented resources increase productivity- good quality brushes, good paint consistency and flow. 

Collaborative learning and peer support a Vygotskian approach
Working together using a variety of materials and resources. Older more able children can offer support to younger ones and encouraging them to develop and deliver mini projects and demonstrate ideas and processes in a way an an adult cannot. Peer support removes the power imbalance that can often inhibit creativity and true collaboration. 

Colour and repetition is often a key feature of play and learning that stimulates and interests the child. 





Under the sea: exploring and investigating ideas about the sea with texture and form.

New ways of working. A small  group of children explored ideas of the sea using wool, beads, sand, glitter, glue and all things sparkly.

The Gruffalo mural



















A popular story was the starting point for our outside mural board, children began by trying to create a deep dark forest with big up and down strokes with big brushes, the children then added characters with support from the artist painting alongside and offering colours. The children helped to label the various parts of the picture and use markers to add detail to the characters. Learning and development during projects crosses all aspects of the early years curriculum.

Explore, Experiment and Invent
Claire mostly take on the role of participant observer in her work with young children, and will facilitate and support the work through creative opportunities. The children take the lead to direct the activity, story or exploration, often leading to extended ideas and learning and increased confidence . 

Claire believes that children are active participants in their own learning and will come to it fully if it is on their terms. Fostering creativity and curiosity of the world around them in this ways leads to meaningful learning experience contributing to a positive disposition to learn and enjoy.

Increasing choice and confidence

Skill based work: a more directive and supported approach.

Claire will sometimes set aside time to introduce a new skill or material or medium as it is important for children to be able to work with a range of materials confidently. Children will begin to make preferences for different ways of working and choose media and materials that express their own unique ideas. Clay is a wonderful material through which to have fun and learn. Its messy too..... an experience that not all children are able to explore  !