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University of Cambridge

Open: Tuesday–Sunday, 11am–5pm

We are closed on Bank Holiday Mondays.

Please note that on Wednesday 26 February Kettle’s Yard will be closing at 3.30pm for a private event. Last entry to the house will be at 2.15pm. Thank you.

Please note that Kettle’s Yard is closed on Easter Sunday (20 April).

Book Tickets

Open: Tuesday–Sunday, 11am–5pm

We are closed on Bank Holiday Mondays.

Please note that on Wednesday 26 February Kettle’s Yard will be closing at 3.30pm for a private event. Last entry to the house will be at 2.15pm. Thank you.

Please note that Kettle’s Yard is closed on Easter Sunday (20 April).

Stories

Ready or Not? Sparking Creative Discussions Around School Readiness

Kettle’s Yard Learning & Community team has been working in partnership with researchers from the University’s of Cambridge and Birmingham to explore how creativity can support children and their families in getting ready to start school. This work has resulted in a new resource for parents and nursery teachers full of creative ideas and activities to spark conversations, inspired by art collections.

Artist Rachel McGivern led a series of creative workshops with families from the Red Hen Project in North Cambridge and also those attending a special Studio Sunday. The starting point for each activity was an object from the Kettle’s Yard collection which initiated a conversation about:

  • Planning a new journey
  • Gathering and sorting objects
  • Making friends
Photo by Josh Murfitt

These conversations were reinforced by a fun and creative activity such as drawing a map, planning a make-believe tea party and gathering and displaying natural objects. These workshops have informed a new set of resources and suggested activities for parents, carers and nursery teachers to support their children’s resilience for starting school.

Resources