Early Years

Designed for children’s centres and Early Years providers, our artist-led Early Years projects introduce young children to dance through music, storytelling, and multi-sensory play.

Sessions bring to life the stories of much-loved children’s books:

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
There is a Tribe of Kids by Lane Smith

Using sensory resources, the environments in the story are recreated in your centre. Children are encouraged to respond creatively to the story and share their ideas with each other, enabling them to develop confidence, self-expression and language skills.

Children’s centres and Early Years providers in Leeds and Bradford are welcome to express their interest. We can only deliver a limited number of projects each academic year. See Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

See a Project in Action

The projects support characteristics of effective learning: playing and exploring, active learning, creative and thinking critically and link to the following early learning goals.

Communication and language development	Listening, attention and understanding Speaking
Physical development	Gross motor skills Fine motor skills
Personal, social and emotional development	Managing self Building relationships
Expressive arts and design	Creating with materials Being imaginative and expressive
Understanding the world	The natural world
Supports children with English as an Additional Language (EAL) by providing opportunities for non-verbal communication and repetition of familiar vocabulary

'The project has had a very positive impact on the children’s well-being and emotional development. Their confidence grew significantly over the weeks... The children were all encouraged to express themselves in a variety of different ways and were given the opportunity to communicate their ideas. As a result, their communication skills and self-confidence have improved.'

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where does the project run?: We can deliver a small number of artist-led projects in the summer term. Our schedule fills up fast so get in touch with plenty of time to express your interest; we start accepting them from 2 September 2025. The project runs for five consecutive weeks and the sessions are one hour in length.

The project will be delivered at your centre.
What does it cost?: The project is free of charge* and includes all five weekly sessions, one hour in length, and an accompanying resource pack, plus in-person training to support centre staff to deliver sensory and movement activities as a regular part of their work.

*For centres more than 10 miles from Northern Ballet (LS2 7PA), mileage is payable at 45p per mile to and from your centre for artists’ travel.
Can any Early Years provider apply to take part in a project?: Any centre in Leeds or Bradford can book a project. Please email learning@northernballet.com to request an Expression of Interest Form.

Expression of Interest opens on Tuesday 2 September 2025 for projects in summer term 2026.
How many children can take part?: We can work with up to 12 children when there are at least two centre staff supporting.

We can work with up to eight children when there is one member of centre staff supporting.
Does the centre need to provide anything?: At least one member of centre staff must support the sessions, with two centre staff required for us to work with more than 8 children in a session.

We will bring the story book, music and some sensory resources. Before your project starts, we will chat with you to see what resources you already have. We may come and visit your centre in advance to look at your space, and if the weather permits, we may even work outside.
What sort of resources will be used?: Depending on the adventure in your story, we may use: large and small pieces of fabric, parachutes, fake or real grass and leaves, compost, water, ice, percussion instruments, paint and paper, flour, glitter, bubble wrap, fans and dressing up clothes.
Supporting centre staff: Before delivery begins, we will give you a resource pack so you know what activities and resources we will use each week. The resource pack can also support you to deliver the project again without our assistance.

The project includes a twilight CPD session for staff to better support you to deliver sensory and movement exploration after the project has finished.