Light Up Language is a 3-year project exploring how drama techniques can be used to support and develop children’s oracy (speaking and listening) skills from the earliest possible stage, by engaging drama practitioners with early years settings and primary schools.

Following consultation with our partner schools and early years settings, Light Up Language responds to a direct need to support children’s speaking and listening. We are supporting children through targeted group work, giving them the opportunity to thrive in their learning environment.

Launched in October 2024, Light Up Language builds on the learning of our previous 2-year project, Light Up School Learning.

The project builds on Travelling Light’s expertise in working with schools and early years settings, and also trials new approaches to using drama-based practice to support oracy, developed collaboratively with schools and early years settings.

Light Up Language provides professional development for both teachers and artists through ideas exchange, skill sharing and  collaborative planning and working. Teachers and support workers will gain lasting skills for using creative approaches in their settings to support child development.

The project is funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation.