Evaluation - Scottish Screen

2.3 Cluster C (Early Years)
In 2007 the Scottish Government’s Moving Image Education pilot project in Angus was
expanded into the Early Years, that is, for children aged 3-7 years, with funding from Scottish
Screen. It was located in four primary schools, these schools being selected as schools with a
nursery class attached and with an interest in pursuing their curriculum in the context of
Moving Image Education. A Lead Practitioner was appointed to develop, initiate and trial
MIE activities in these schools.
Three of the schools were located in a rural context consisting of composite classes
throughout each school. The fourth school was located in an urban context with same stage
classes (P1-P7) being the norm throughout the school.
Each school had a nursery class with children aged 3 years and 4 years learning together.
Children’s learning in the early years was facilitated by an early years practitioner though not
necessarily a trained and experienced teacher. The Lead Practitioner visited each location on
at least one occasion per week over a six month period. Both the children and the early years
practitioner (and where appropriate, a classroom assistant) were introduced to MIE in the first
instance by the Lead Practitioner. Initially the Lead Practitioner selected a short film (for
example, Baboon on the Moon) to show to the class. Following the film the Lead
Practitioner encouraged the children to articulate their responses to the film and in the context
of both whole class and small group discussion (See Appendix 1). The film acted as a
stimulus to generate a story as the basis for the MIE work. In subsequent sessions the
children took part in story boarding, prop design and generation of appropriate music.
Finally, the children constructed the various ‘sets’ to support the generation of a film (or
DVD) of their story. During the MIE sessions the teacher (an early years practitioner)
observed the Lead Practitioner and participated in discussion with the children.
8