Reflecting on Year 1 of Light Up Language

Published on 22 October 2025.

Light Up Language is a three-year project focused on how drama, storytelling and other creative provocations can support pupil's speaking and listening skills (oracy) in primary schools and early years settings.

The project is funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation's Arts-based Learning programme.

In Year 1, between January – July 2025, we worked with 3 nursery settings and 2 primary schools in Bristol, delivering a total of 60 creative sessions in primary schools, working with 52 children, and delivering 57 creative sessions in early years settings, working with 85 preschool children.

Year 1 - how it worked

In early years settings, the process was based on a model of reflective practice, observing the children and their play, and planning of future activity based on their interests.

There were two very different models in the primary schools, one where the artist worked with a whole class of Year 3 students and the other where the artist worked with a KS1 and KS2 intervention group with pupils from a mix of classes.

Watch our Year 1 project film below:

Benefits observed

In early years settings, benefits were observed not only in in speech, language and communication but also in emotional wellbeing, social interaction and even other areas like Maths.

In primary schools, teachers observed that the project had broader benefits than their narrow definition of ‘oracy’, reflecting that the project supported the ‘building blocks’ of oracy, including group work, confidence, turn-taking and listening, which all supported communication skills.

Pupils have also been able to work on their emotional awareness, which has benefited their social interactions with their peers.

Some excellent feedback

“One class teacher was flabbergasted by how much progress X (pupil) has made. At the beginning they were selective mute and their teacher had not heard her speak before Travelling Light…after working with Stevie, she took part in the Year 6 performance. Her parents and teacher were amazed how her confidence and oracy has developed.” Independent Evaluator on Light Up Language

Teachers said:

“For many children English is not their first language so learning simple words and rhymes is really important. Gaining the confidence of playing with other children, playing together that has been really important. You can see them grow in confidence…"

“Fantastic. It’s been really good because of the non-verbal nature of the work”.

"The children are using their imagination far more”.

“It was experimental and challenging for the children and us…It was interesting to see how the engagement and confidence has developed with some children taking longer than others…”

“One child in Year 2 who was reluctant to participate has become so much more confident in their speaking and behaviour. Their parents have noticed a real difference at home as well as at school.”

"We have been able to champion young people who may have been overlooked in a typical classroom situation."

Children said:

"I am so much more confident...now people say I am very chatty in class."

"Happy to join the group – now I am excited and curious each week not sure what we will do. I think it has been wonderful."

"Travelling Light has been fun. I have really enjoyed working with people from other classes, I have loved the games."