During the morning lecture, we were introduced to the work of the pupils in Room 13. Room 13 was described as a “social enterprise model of art education embedded in a number of primary’s and one or two secondary schools in Scotland” (Adams et al, 2008, p.11). Through this, pupils have the opportunity to work closely with artists through discussions of improvements to their own work. Artists are able to inspire children, which enhances their confidence in art. Room 13 is an ideal space for this, as there are few rules. Children are allowed to draw/paint on floors, they are not limited to A4 paper and they have support from specialists. This can reassure children that there are no mistakes in art, allowing them to express themselves more.

As a teacher, it is imperative that we do not criticise expressive arts harshly in school, as it can have a detrimental impact on children’s confidence and may impact on their future involvement in the arts. Through independent creations, we can better understand the stories that children are trying to tell through expressive art.