Speech Bubbles Practitioner
HfC’s Get Creative programme is looking to recruit 2 inspirational Drama/Theatre practitioners to work with us over a year, to deliver the Speech Bubbles Programme.
Speech Bubbles is a drama-based initiative designed to support children with speech, language, and communication needs. Through a carefully structured, weekly small-group creative programme, Speech Bubbles helps KS1 children develop confidence, wellbeing, and essential speaking and listening skills.
When drama is a central component of the primary curriculum, children have more opportunity to express themselves, build confidence, and develop key communication skills. Speech Bubbles sessions enable children to benefit from having a creative platform to play, perform, and share their own stories.
You can find out more about the programme here: Speech Bubbles
Our selected Speech Bubbles practitioners will work in two Cornish primary schools on one day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Sessions will be with 20 children aged 4-6 (Reception and Year 1) per school and will last 45 minutes. You will get to work with the same children across the academic year, so will get to know the children and the appointed teaching assistant really well.
Time Commitment and key dates:
- Attend the Speech Bubbles introductory session on Wednesday 21 May 6-8.30pm at HfC, Truro
- Go to Bristol Old Vic to shadow and watch an experienced Speech Bubbles facilitator whilst they deliver a session on either 17/6, 18/6 or 20/6. If you are unavailable we can arrange for an alternative date in September.
- 26th June – Training Day with Adam Annand in Truro – This is a ½ day of training with Adam and ½ day online course which will cover a base level understanding of children’s communication.
- Wednesday 17 September Induction session with your allocated primary schools and the TA you will be working with
- SCHOOLS work – One day a week for 24 weeks. We aim for the day to remain the same each week (eg every Tuesday) 4 sessions per half term x 6 half terms across the academic year. Week day to be discussed with you and the recruited schools.
We are currently recruiting Speech Bubbles Schools. We don’t know who the schools are yet, so we will be matching schools with practitioners with the aim to minimise travel time for practitioners and reduce carbon footprint.
Practitioner fee for the project £6,720 (based on £110 per half day or £220 per full day)
Fee covers:
- 24 days of sessions
- 4 x ½ days of training (or 2 full days)
- 1 full day induction
- 1 collaborative learning day in Bristol
- ½ day evaluation session
- Travel expenses up to £450 in total.
Essential Attributes:
- Knowledgeable and enthusiastic drama practitioner who has demonstrable skills in working with children age 4-7
- Proven track record of delivering excellence through inspirational drama workshops
- Ability to enthuse and inspire children and school staff using drama and creativity
- Passion and drive for using drama to enhance and enrich children’s educational, personal and social skills
- Driver, with own car and insurance
- Reliable and able to commit for the entirety of the project
- Organised, good communication skills, ability to manage your own time well
- Own PLI insurance
- Agree to enhanced DBS check (HfC will provide).
Desirable:
- Experience working in Primary Schools
- Interest and/or knowledge in children’s development and communication
- Able to connect well with teachers and teaching assistants.
How to apply:
Please send us (details below) a CV and a covering statement of no more than 500 words which details:
- Your skills and knowledge in relation to the role and what attributes you will bring to it
- Please provide some examples of your work, ideally referring to specific projects
- Names and emails of 2 references we can contact
- Do also tell us any regular weekdays you would prefer not to work, where you are based and how far you’d be willing to travel (eg, 15 mins, within half an hour, up to an hour).
As an equal opportunities employer HfC will accept your application in a format that suits your needs. This can be written, recorded or audio. Please note that no additional marks will be awarded for heavily produced video/audio content. We’re interested in you and why you want to do this. If you are sending a video or audio file please keep your answers succinct and no longer than 6 minutes.
Final Task!
Please also tell us a story! Provide a private video link (vimeo or youtube) of you telling a short story (or a few pages of a story) of no more than 2 minutes pitched at, and read for, a 4-7 year old. Using your phone is fine, we are not expecting glossy, Oscar-winning show reels, this will just help give us an idea of your style of communication and presentation style. If you are technically unable to do this, please let us know as there will be another way for us to access the footage.
Deadline for applications: 2nd June 2025, midday
Email CV and videos to: [email protected]
Selection/interview date: 9th June