I’m so glad to be able to officially thank my family, friends and colleagues who have been wonderfully enthusiastic in their support for the writing of this book. The contributors who gave their time and expertise so freely to add their voices to the rallying cry for creativity and expressive arts in primary schools, which make the messages in Chapters 6 and 7 so powerful: Ed, Robert, Alastair, Jonathan, Karin, Anthony, Padraig and Kerenza – thank you so much! To Al Johnson and Alistair Lambert, who generously gave me a unique insight into the life and thoughts of what it is to be an artist working with children and in schools – thank you! Thanks, also, go to Paula Briggs of Access Arts, whose conversation helped me more than she might know! To the children of Year 5 at Sacred Heart School and their lovely teacher, Jade, who let me photograph their work – thank you! A special thanks to my dear long-suffering friend and colleague, Robert Watts, who contributed the printmaking and the new media and technology sections of Chapter 4, and the piece on mathematics in Chapter 7, as well as supplying some of the better photographs in the book. I would also like to extend my appreciation to Peter Gregory and Lesley Butterworth for reading through and validating the work as it progressed, to Amy at Learning Matters for commissioning me in the first place, and to Lauren for keeping me on track during the process.

Lastly, I would like to thank all the student teachers I have taught for the journey of learning we have been on together over the years, and to those who have permitted me to photograph them for this publication. This book is for you, and for the children you will teach.[Page xiv]