A Work Experience Placement at Skylight Circus Arts

A Work Experience Placement at Skylight Circus Arts

by | Mar 5, 2025 | Education, News, Our Team & Community

We were delighted when one of our long standing youth circus members asked us if they could have their work experience week with us in December 2024

Darci has been coming to Skylight since she was 4 and has grown up in our youth and aerial classes. She has performed in many of our shows over the years and is now part of our newly established Spotlight Troupe who are currently training for their first performance Sky-Fi in just a few weeks! Darci already volunteers with us weekly within our youth circus and aerial classes and is an inspiration to some of the younger participants she supports.

Here’s Darci’s week in the life of her work experience here at Skylight.

This week I got to do my work experience at Skylight. I decided to do my placement at skylight because I love circus arts and knew I wanted to spend my work experience week doing something I was passionate about and would enjoy. I had such a great time being a part of the team and getting ready for the Christmas show.

On my first day, Martine gave me a helpful introduction to what this week would be like as well as other important things such as safeguarding. Monday was a very busy day, as we got the hall ready for the Christmas Show. It was hard work but so rewarding to see how good it all looked by the end. After all the hard work, I had some time to relax before the show. To end an amazing first day, I performed and watched the Christmas show. Everybody had such a great time and lots of fun!

 

On Tuesday I organised and prepared some equipment for the show. After the show we had to do some hard work, putting away everything from the hall and restoring it back to normal. I worked as a part of a team, and thanks to our amazing team work we managed to pack everything away within an hour. Tuesday was a very helpful day as it taught me a lot about teamwork and the importance of working together.

 

On Wednesday, my work day was quite different from the previous days. As the Christmas show was over, I did some administrative work. I looked through all the pictures from the Christmas show and picked out the ones that I thought were the best, then using canva I edited them and got them ready to be posted to the Skylight social media accounts. I liked that on Wednesday I had lots of independence and could use my creativity in the jobs I did.

I am very excited as later in the week I will be doing a circus taster workshop for a local youth group with Gil and Danni. I think that it will be great and a fun challenge as it is a different kind of job then the rest of the days. I can’t wait!

If I was to sum up this week in one word it would be – rewarding, because I have done lots of hard work this week and got to see how it pays off. Doing my work experience this week, especially as it was a show week, has shown me how much hard work and effort everybody at Skylight puts into shows and making sure everything runs smoothly. I have loved my week of work experience and I am so thankful for the opportunity.

Contact us to find out more about our classes and our wonderful Skylight community.

How Circus Impacts on Children’s Language and Literacy Development

How Circus Impacts on Children’s Language and Literacy Development

by | Nov 21, 2024 | Covid-19, Education, News

How Circus Skills are Transforming Lives

In recent years, the challenges facing young people’s language and literacy development have been widely reported across the UK. National waiting lists for speech and language referrals continue to grow, leaving many children without the timely support they need.

At Skylight Circus Arts, our Circus Train the Trainer programme has stepped up to meet this need, offering a unique, evidence-based solution that is changing lives and advancing educational outcomes, one circus skill at a time.

The Language and Literacy Crisis in UK Schools

According The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, more than 75,000 children in the UK are on waiting lists for specialist language and literacy support. With primary schools particularly affected by this gap, teachers are seeking creative solutions to stimulate learning and personal development. Through Circus Train the Trainer, we have developed a programme that not only delivers immediate improvement but also brings joy and engagement to the learning process.

Skylight Circus Manchester primary school workshop

Circus: A New Approach to Development

Rochdale Primary school teachers and teaching assistants with their Skylight Circus Train the Trainer resource packs.

Our Circus Train the Trainer programme empowers primary schools to support children in new, impactful ways. Designed as a flexible cascade learning model, it trains teachers to deliver circus-based activities tailored to enhance children’s speech, language and overall cognitive development. Over the past three years, Circus Train the Trainer has reached over 600 primary school children, with extraordinary results

  • Language Development: In partnership with Rochdale’s Early Help and Schools, Children participating in this programme, advanced their language and literacy skills by an average of 1 year in a single term, an outcome that exceeded expectations.
  • Engagement and Confidence: 90% of teachers reported that students showed increased classroom participation and improved confidence.
  • Motor Skills and Concentration: Circus activities develop fine and gross motor skills, which research shows is vital for young learners’ language development and concentration. Teachers noted that students showed increased focus, resilience and a readiness to learn across subjects.

“These results point to the remarkable potential of circus arts as an innovative educational tool, particularly at a time when the demand for mental health and language support far outstrips available resources” 

Martine Bradford, Creative Director  

Evidence Based Impact: How Circus is Helping Schools Bridge the Gap

The Circus Train the Trainer programme has provided primary schools with a measurable and immediate solution to improve students’ language and literacy outcomes. With waiting times for specialist support exceeding 18 months in some regions, schools are often left to tackle these issues independently. Our programme has demonstrated a tangible improvement, reflected in standardised literacy and Welcomm scores, with children achieving developmental milestones faster than through traditional methods alone.

young girl on stilts being helped by peer at school
Train the Trainer circus programme for schools in Greater Manchester

Additionally, Circus programme complements the UK government’s call for promoting and supporting mental health and wellbeing in schools and colleges, using creative approaches to mental health and well-being. Studies highlight that physically engaging and skill-based activities like circus arts help children manage anxiety, build self-esteem, and improve overall emotional resilience. Teachers have seen firsthand how circus skills are a powerful tool for self-expression, offering students a sense of accomplishment and pride.

The Power of Collaboration: Creating Long-Term Change

Circus Train the Trainer is more than just a school programme; it’s a community initiative. By working alongside schools, local authorities and mental health professionals, Skylight Circus Arts is paving the way for a sustainable model that could be scaled nationally. Our partnerships allow for tailored, flexible approaches to meet specific local needs, ensuring that every child has access to the life-changing benefits of circus arts.

“Our flexible approach allows us to create bespoke delivery options for each school. We work alongside teachers and pupils to create the greatest possible impact.”

Martine Bradford Creative Director

Teachers learning circus skills in Skylight's Train the trainer programme Rochdale

What’s Next for Circus Train the Trainer?

At Skylight Circus Arts, we’re eager to expand our offer and reach even more schools and communities across the North West. With the support of local authorities and funders, we can extend our programme to provide every child with an opportunity to thrive. Our goal is to continue to grow our flexible offer, proving that circus skills do more than entertain, they change lives! For schools and organisations interested in bringing the Circus Train the Trainer programme to their classrooms, we invite you to discuss how we can work together to make a difference. We’re on a mission to show that circus skills can be an essential tool for education, well-being and personal growth.

Contact Skylight Circus Arts today to learn more about how circus is transforming lives and communities. Together, we can create a brighter, more connected future for our children.