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#PassTheBaton this summer

In a recent open letter, Curious Minds, our Bridge Organisation colleagues in North West England, called on the Government and school leaders to #PassTheBaton on summer learning to the nation’s army of teaching artists and creative educators. We know many colleagues who are sorely in need of work after almost a year of lockdowns and restrictions on their practice.

The letter highlights the very real and pressing need among our country’s young people for a summer of creative fun, freedom and friendship that will give them the best possible route to effective learning when the new academic year begins in the autumn, and prepare them to return to school ready to learn after the summer holidays.

The interactive digital map will help demonstrate to school leaders and policy-makers the vast scale of the creative and cultural education workforce – from freelance artists, through grassroots cultural organisations, to Arts Council NPOs. 

Play your part by adding your details to the Summer Learning map

We recently highlighted the Department for Education Summer School and Holiday Activities and Food funding. You can help demonstrate to schools and other commissioners, such as local authorities, that you are interested in supporting summer learning activity in your area and in developing partnerships with your local schools by adding your details to the map. 

A range of partners, including the CLA, are helping Curious Minds to publish advice and information that will help schools to contract with artists and arts organisations properly, adopting quality principles, effective evaluation, and fair rates of pay for artists. 

The CLA will be publishing a series of case studies of Summer 2021 models you could use to deliver summer activities, as well as advice on evaluation. Keep an eye out for the information which we will post on the website and include in newsletters.