Primary-school-based art therapy: A mixed methods comparison study on children’s classroom learning

ABSTRACT

Background: In the UK an estimated one in ten primary school pupils have diagnosable mental health problems which may impact their education.

Aims/context: This study examined a primary-school-based art therapy service for children experiencing social, emotional and mental health difficulties to assess the intervention’s acceptability and possible changes in classroom learning.

Methods: A mixed methods before-and-after study was conducted with 25 children in art therapy and a comparison group of 25 children per subject for reading, writing and maths attainment. A focus group with 10 teachers and interviews with 37 children were used to examine perceptions of art therapy and classroom learning.

Results: Academic attainment was similar between the art therapy and comparison children. Both groups’ learning rate resembled that of national minimum expectations. Children and teachers perceived art therapy to be helpful for engagement with classroom learning, relationships with teachers and peers, and learning time.

Conclusions: Further research is needed to develop this primary-school-based art therapy programme, assess transferability, and examine wider educational outcomes.

Implications for practice: Primary-school-based art therapy may be particularly helpful when it is perceived as: a safe place, sessions being social and fun, facilitates coping strategies, expressing, thinking and talking, as well as making artwork.

Plain-language summary

In the UK an estimated one in ten primary school pupils suffer from mental health problems, and this can affect their educational attainment. Thus, it is important that therapies help children to gain positive outcomes both in mental health and educationally.

We looked at one art therapy service, which specifically focuses on helping children to understand their own and others’ minds (metallization), within one primary school in London. Thirty-seven children referred to art therapy with social, emotional and mental health difficulties were included. Ten class teachers participated. The aims were to see if the children, and their teachers, found the approach acceptable and if there were any indications of changes in classroom learning.

There were no differences in reading, writing and maths scores between children attending art therapy and comparison children receiving usual education support. However, all the children learned at the same rate as the national minimum expectation. Art therapy may have prevented the increasing educational attainment gap that social, emotional and mental health difficulties can bring.

We held a focus group with the class teachers and interviewed the children and both reported experiencing art therapy as helpful for engagement with classroom learning, relationships with teachers and peers, and learning time. Specific aspects of art therapy which they considered helpful were: art therapy being a safe place; learning coping strategies; expressing, thinking and talking in art therapy; making artwork; and sessions being social and fun. The teachers also appreciated: advocating and sharing information; psychoeducation and collaborative work; reflecting on actions; encouraging independence; framing school as a positive place with trusted adults; working with transitions and endings.

We recommend further research, including more art therapists, schools, teachers, parents and children, to further develop and assess this approach to art therapy in primary schools.

KEYWORDS:

• Art therapy
• primary school
• school-based
• children
• mixed method research
• social
• emotional
• and mental health (SEMH)
• learning
• education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Alex McDonald, SRA’sT (Art), MRes (Clinical Research), has worked as an art therapist with children, young people and families since 2005. She is currently an Officer and Tutor at the British Association of Art Therapists, coordinates the Art Therapy Practice Research Network, and is Co-Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Art Therapy: Inscape.

Sue Holttum, PhD, AFBPsS, C.Psychol. is a senior lecturer at the Salomons Institute for Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK, and part-time Research Officer for the British Association of Art Therapists. Alongside her own research in art therapy, Dr Holttum supervises doctoral level research in applied psychology.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.