I feel it is vitally important to be responsive to the people you are working with and develop the facilitation skills that fit each situation and dynamic.

This page shows some of the Action research I have been part of.

‘In June 2019 Mandy Cryan, head teacher and Lorna Rose, Artist in Residence at Lillian de Lissa Nursery School talked with Professor Simon James from Durham Commission on Creativity and Education.

The discussion was exciting, layered and almost frantic as we all tried to share our ideas on creative practice, how this can be carried out depending on the needs and dynamic of the children, and to what end we are striving. It could have gone on for days but we only had a few hours to fully explain why we think creativity is absolutely vital and fundamental to very young children’s educational and personal development.

It turned out that we were all metaphorically shouting about the same thing: Creativity is not solely about the arts, creativity can help develop a child’s view on engaging with new experiences and be a positive factor in a child’s wellbeing. If we equip children with knowledge based on creative experience they will be prepared to face the challenges thrown at them, not only in school, but also in life.’ https://www.dur.ac.uk…/creativitycommissi…/DurhamReport.pdf

In 2016 Louisa Penfold, a P.H.D student from Nottingham University and Tate Galleries, spent time with me in school to observe how the environment can support and encourage child centred learning. She really enjoyed her time with me in school and gave some really positive feedback about the way I work with creative teaching and learning. What follows is a snippet of text from her blog:

“Within an early years education setting, designing for flexibility allows children to encounter educational experiences from diverse levels of knowledge, backgrounds and interests. This, then paves the way for the possibility of collaborative learning, understanding, respect and friendship between people.”
The following link Contains a video about creative interaction in Lillian de Lissa Nursery School filmed for Louisa’s blog called Art. Play. Children. Pedagogy.

https://louisapenfold.com/2016/03/19/cultivating-curiosity-lillian-de-lissa-childrens-centre-birmingham/

Changing Schools – Alternative ways to make a world of difference has recently been published by Routledge and includes a chapter about Lillian de Lissa Nursery School, the teaching styles used and the general ethos of how we work. I co-wrote this chapter with Pat Thomson who also edited the book with Terry Wrigley and Bob Lingard.

08.2011 Turning Pupils Onto Learning: Creative Classrooms in Action Creativity – Working with Boys (chapter edited by Rob Elkington)

A chapter focusing on a case study of how children have different styles of investigating and learning. Written by Lorna Rose and Angela Carlin.

11.2010 Researching Creative Learning, Methods and Issues  Professor Pat Thomson, University of Nottingham

When Only the Visual Will Do by Professor Pat Thomson interviewing Lorna Rose. Creative teaching and learning is often used as a site for research and action research, and this volume is intended to act as a textbook for this range of courses and initiatives. The book will be a key text for research in creative teaching and learning and is specifically directed at ITE, CPD, Masters and doctoral students.

05.2009 EYE – Early Years Educator, Strength in Diversity by Lorna Rose

” Lorna Rose explores how one nursery school is using the different needs of each intake of children, from a wide range of backgrounds and languages, to change styles of practice within the staff team”

• 06.2009 Creative Childhoods: A Celebration, Lillian de Lissa Nursery School

• 06.2005 360 – Children experiencing Birmingham City Centre

• 01.2005 Times Educational Supplement – Ikon Gallery, Artist’s in Schools

• 09.2004 Times Educational Supplement – Review of Creative Partnerships

• 07.2004 Birmingham Post ‘Gallery 37’ Community Workshops

• 04.2001 Elle Decoration ‘Deco Details’ Embroidered Tent

• 02.2001 Vogue ‘Outward Bound’ Sotheby’s Show Promotion