В Палате лордов обсудили создание консультативной группы для интеграции финансирования искусства в образование

Last month in the House of Lords, Baroness Caine of Kentish Town asked the government when it plans to establish the advisory group promised in response to the Arts Council England review. The group is intended to help align funding and policy across government programmes that support arts education. Ministers said progress would be made soon. That may sound like a technical policy discussion taking place hundreds of miles away from Norfolk. In reality, it affects every child in our county. At Norwich Theatre, we believe creativity should be central to every child’s education, not treated as an extra. Schools and cultural organisations already understand the value of creativity in helping children learn, communicate and thrive. The problem is that public policy has not caught up. Too often, organisations working in education, culture and wellbeing are trying to achieve the same goals through disconnected funding streams and short-term projects. Yet creativity is not separate from learning. When a child steps into a character, tells a story or explores an idea through drama, they are developing language, confidence, empathy, and emotional understanding. Our own work shows what is possible when that support is in place. Wise About Words, delivered with schools across Norfolk, uses drama, storytelling, role-play, movement and imaginative play to help teachers bring learning to life and support children's communication and emotional literacy. This year, that work has expanded through teacher training, helping practitioners use creative approaches from the earliest years of learning. It is one example of work that can make a real difference when partnerships are given time to develop. Beyond the System, our podcast developed with care-experienced young people and Norfolk County Council, reinforced the same lesson. When young people are given a genuine creative voice, they can build confidence and help shape the services and futures that affect them. The need for this work is only becoming more urgent. Research linked to our work shows that 33pc of children starting Reception are not considered school ready. For children eligible for free school meals, the figure rises to 45pc. At the same time, millions of children across the UK struggle with speech, language and communication skills, despite evidence showing that early language development is one of the strongest predictors of future educational success. That challenge starts long before formal schooling begins. Through Wise About Words, we are now working with nursery, reception and specialist education staff across Norfolk, and have recently secured a new partnership with Norfolk County Council to bring these approaches into nursery settings. Creative play, storytelling and imaginative learning are some of the building blocks that help children arrive at school ready to learn. As actor and campaigner Julie Hesmondhalgh recently reminded delegates at the UK Theatre Conference, "hearts starve as well as bodies." Quoting the old slogan "give us bread, but give us roses too," she argued that culture cannot be treated as an afterthought once everything else has been funded. Creativity, connection and self-expression are part of what helps people thrive. She also posed a challenge that policymakers should take seriously. Independent schools continue to invest heavily in drama, music, art and cultural experiences because they understand the value of creativity in developing confident young people. The question is why those opportunities are not consistently available to every child, regardless of their background. Too often, arts education is discussed as though it competes with other priorities. In reality, it supports them. That is why the proposed advisory group is so important. If it can align funding and policy across education, culture and wellbeing, organisations like Norwich Theatre will be able to plan further ahead, build deeper partnerships with schools and expand work that is already making a difference. The government has recognised the need for a more joined-up approach, and the advisory group is a welcome first step. But its success must be judged by whether more children gain access to the creative experiences that help them build confidence and engage with learning. I hope the group is established soon and that arts organisations have a seat at the table. Because those of us working with children every day have an important contribution to make. We already know what happens when young people are given the opportunity to imagine and express themselves. The challenge now is making sure every child has that opportunity. Stephen Crocker is chief executive and creative director of Norwich Theatre