Increased confidence, self-esteem and social skills are some of the identified positive outcomes of creative interventions with children and young people experiencing disadvantage, according to this new evidence review published by the Coram Institute for Children. However, the review concludes that much of the evidence is not rigorous enough to draw firm conclusions, and more robust studies are needed in this space.
The review, supported by the Hadley Trust, explores the evidence of the impact of creative programmes delivered outside of the national curriculum such as arts, music, theatre and multimedia. It specifically looks at children and young people with care experience and those experiencing more broader disadvantage and exclusion.
The report makes a number of important recommendations for policy, research and practice, based on the findings of the review.