An inclusive education initiative using the arts to embed diversity across the primary school curriculum

Lytham Hall Park is proud to be a part of The E Project. The E Project, led by HMDT Music, is a three-year initiative designed to embed inclusion, diversity, and anti-racism into the primary school curriculum through the creative arts. By integrating drama, music, and visual art into everyday learning, the project encourages pupils to explore important social themes while supporting cross-curricular education.

Lytham Hall Park is taking part in this programme along with other schools nationally, which brings in professional artists to deliver engaging workshops that link directly to curriculum topics. Using resources from previous HMDT Music projects—such as Hear Our Voice, STEM Sisters, An Invite from the Queen, Trench Brothers, and Shadowball—the initiative aims to build a lasting collection of creative tools for schools. Through this approach, the E Project seeks to empower pupils, enrich learning experiences, and foster a more inclusive school environment.

Drama and Diversity: The Power of Language

Jo from the E-Project visited to lead a drama session on diversity and culture, focusing on the origins of language in Europe. Through drama, Year 5 explored the importance of language in communication, engaging thoughtfully in character work and discussion. The session ended with a thought-provoking debate topic: Do we need verbal language to communicate?

Connecting Cultures Through Music with the E-Project

We welcomed Ben from the E-Project to explore music as part of our European connector. Pupils took part in vocal performances, instrument exploration, dance routines, and composition inspired by a range of European countries, celebrating culture and diversity through music.

Walking in Someone Else’s Shoes: A Journey Through European Art

We have enjoyed another exciting and thought-provoking afternoon with the E-Project, this week focussing on European Art, to link with our connector. Kate, a local artist, joined us in school and took us on a journey through Europe, in the shoes of people who have left their own countries, for one reason or another, and made homes in other European countries.

Using an artist for inspiration, Year 5 created portraits of these people and then collaged flip flop shoes to represent the countries in which they now lived. Year 5 were asked to find the partner of their flip flop and exchange the stories of the people that inspired their designs. This was incredible as children realised how much they could find in common and they linked learning back to our drama session, thinking about the importance of language and communication. One pair even discovered that they both had stories of people that had fled Syria as refugees, moved to other countries and were paired up by flip flops. They talked about how if this happened, what would happen to these people, whether they would stay in touch, become friends or even marry one day!

Victorian Voices: Drama, Diversity, and Change

We welcomed Jo from the E-Project back into school for another engaging session, this time linking diversity and cultural awareness to our Victorians connector. Year 5 explored key Victorian settings—workhouses, schools, mills, and railways—using movement and freeze frames to create narrated documentary-style scenes.

Pupils then learned about prominent figures from the Victorian era who fought for racial equality and the abolition of slavery. Using their research, they created powerful mini documentary dramas to bring these stories to life.

Voices of Courage: Frances Yonge and Victorian Art

The E-Project returned with an art-focused session led by artist Lisa. Year 5 learned about Frances Yonge, a Black woman in Victorian Britain who stood up against racial discrimination in the workplace and became one of the first prominent voices after the abolition of slavery. Inspired by her story, pupils created powerful textile-based artwork reflecting workhouse conditions and headline messages from the time.