A Magical Space for Learning and Communication
For more than 15 years, the Creative Space has been a special part of life at Brays School.
Each half-term, the space is transformed into an immersive, multi-sensory world—from exploring The Body to discovering Ancient Egypt.
Led by Creative Consultant Harry Dawes and our dedicated staff, these magical workshops encourage children to play, explore and communicate in ways that are meaningful and exciting.
Every session is carefully designed to support each child’s needs. By combining multi-sensory drama with early years principles, the Creative Space helps children build understanding, reduce sensory barriers and grow in confidence—always with communication at the heart.
Real Impact for Our Children
The research shows just how powerful this approach is.
When a specialist Teaching Assistant with speech and language training joined the Creative Space team for a focused project, the impact on children’s communication was remarkable:
- 65% of communication targets were fully achieved
- 30% were partially achieved
- Only 5% remained unmet
This is a huge improvement compared to before the project began and shows how the Creative Space is giving children the tools to express themselves and connect with others.
Supporting Every Child to Flourish
As well as boosting communication, the Creative Space builds confidence, encourages social interaction and supports emotional well-being.
It’s also helping us make sure every child—whatever their background—has the same opportunities to thrive.
With almost a third of our pupils eligible for Pupil Premium, this inclusive approach is an important part of closing attainment gaps and making sure every child’s voice is heard.
A Celebration of Creativity and Teamwork
The Creative Space has already been recognised with the Drama & Theatre Editors’ Award (2024), and now this national research shines an even brighter spotlight on the incredible work happening here at Brays.
It also reflects the dedication of our whole team, who take part in regular training and reflective sessions to make sure the Creative Space continues to grow and evolve.
Headteacher Kari Anson, who wrote the case study, says:
“This research captures what we see every day—how creativity and communication go hand in hand. By investing in this special space and in our staff, we’re giving every child the chance to express themselves and shine.”
Looking Ahead
We are excited to keep building on this success—linking Creative Space sessions even more closely with each child’s individual Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) goals and exploring new ways to inspire communication and imagination.
📖 You can read the full case study on the Chartered College of Teaching website: Embedding Communication in Creative Learning in a Specialist Setting
