We offer a range of talks and practical sessions specifically for groups with additional needs. These are bookable now. A selection of teacher-led resources are also available.

We can support your visit by:

-developing inspiring and creative workshops bespoke visits tailored to the needs of your learners

-facilitated practical workshops with trained artists and staff, experienced in working with groups with SEND.

-a fully accessible building with disabled access toilets on Ground Floors and Floors 1 & 4, along with lift access to all floors.

-use of our lunch room for the day. This is a private, calm and safe space exclusively for you.

Please contact us to discuss your group’s requirements further. Further information or booking please contact Catherine James, Education Assistant

E: catherine.james@walsall.gov.uk

T: 01922 654411

Talks and Discussions for SEN groups

Discussions encourage pupils to interpret the works for themselves. Gallery staff pose questions that help the pupils explore the work and value their own interpretations. Discussions can help build self-esteem, visual literacy, problem solving and critical thinking and develop confidence in visiting art galleries.

We offer a range of Talks and Discussions which are available all year round.
• Free 15 minute introductory talks to the Permanent Collection
• Paid 30 minute talk and discussions. £30 per group.
• All talks must be booked in advance.
• We recommend a smaller group size of 15 max for all SEN groups.

Suggested Talk and Discussion Topics
• Introduction to the Permanent Collection
• Portraits
• Sculpture
• Landscapes
• Introduction to the current Temporary Exhibition
Are you working on a particular theme or topic and none of the above suggestions fit? Please contact us for a chat to discuss your ideas.

Paid workshops for SEN groups

We offer a range of Paid Workshops for SEN groups
• All approx. 90 minutes. The length of our workshops can be amended if required.
• Available all year round.
• We recommended a smaller group size of 15 max.
• Prices apply.
• Must be booked in advance

Current workshops include:

EARLY YEARS

Cock-a-Doodle
Pupils explore the painted patterns on the Greek cockerel on display and practice their own patterns.
Pupils move to the workshop room and explore creating their own cockerel using everyday materials.

Learning objectives:

Developing looking skills and exploration
Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
Vocabulary development
Skill development in manipulating everyday materials
Understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

My Minibeast

Come and explore our Collections from the perspective of an insect. Pupils will create their own 3D minibeast to encourage them to look closely at art.

Learning objectives:

Developing looking skills and exploration
Develop creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
Vocabulary development
Skill development in simple modelling techniques
Understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

Giant Landscapes

Pupils will learn the different elements of landscape art. Working as a team they will create their own giant landscape, using simple printing techniques.

Learning objectives:

Developing looking skills and exploration
Develop creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
Vocabulary development
Skill development in printing techniques
Understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

SCULPTURE FOR KS1 UPWARDS

Sculpture – modelling with Mod Roc
• Suitable for all ages
• Pupils explore the bronze sculptures on display in the permanent Collection.
• Pupils draw sculptures from different viewpoints, explore three dimensions and discuss mark making and proportion.
• Pupils explore different sculptural materials through handling and play
• Pupils create their own modelled head using a newspaper base, applying Mod Roc for details

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in using Mod Roc
• Understanding different materials used to create sculptures
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

Sculpture – Plastercasting in clay
• Suitable for KS2 upwards
• Pupils explore the sculptures within the collection
• Pupils explore two and three dimensions and discuss the materials and tools used to create the sculptures.
• Pupils explore different sculptural materials through handling.
• Pupils then move to a workshop room to create their own clay mould and cast in plaster.

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in using clay and Plaster of Paris
• Understanding different materials used to create sculptures
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

PRINTING FOR KS1 UPWARDS

Printing – Relief printing with polystyrene
• Suitable for all ages
• Pupils explore the gallery and a particular subject focus.

• Pupils draw into a polystyrene tile and print using relief inks.

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in creating a two- colour registered print
• Understanding relief printing
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

Printing – Silkscreen printing
• Suitable for age 11 upwards
• Pupils explore the gallery and a particular subject focus.

• Pupils design and cut their own paper stencils.
• Pupils work together to create a silkscreen print using squeegees, inks and a silk screen.

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in creating a print
• Understanding planographic printing
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

Printing – Collagraph
• Suitable for all ages
• Pupils explore the gallery and a particular subject focus.

• Pupils create sketches in the galleries.

• Pupils build their own textured tile using a variety of materials and test this through rubbings before printing it with inks.

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in creating a two colour registered print
• Understanding relief printing
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

DRAWING FOR KS1 UPWARDS

Drawing- Landscape Perspective

• Suitable for all ages

• Taking inspiration from our landscapes room, pupils learn the fundamentals of drawing a landscape in perspective.

Learning objectives:

• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in perspective drawing
• Understanding shading
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

Drawing- Portraits proportion

• Suitable for all ages

• Taking inspiration from the portraits within our Collections, pupils will learn how to draw a portrait using correct proportion.

Learning objectives:

Drawing- Experimental drawing

• Suitable for all ages

• Pupils explore simple experimental drawing exercises including blind contour, continuous line and ink drawing.

Learning objectives:

• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in experimental drawing
• Exploration of mixed media
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

Bespoke Workshops

Please contact us to discuss how we can meet the needs of your group. We offer inspiring and creative workshops tailored to your needs, to enable your students to explore the themes within our Temporary Exhibitions and Collections.