PLAY: Common Ground

Alongside our work with Bradford 2025 City of Culture on the Intergenerational Play project, we were also pleased to be part of the PLAY: Common Ground, which set out to build meaningful connections between learners in SEND settings and mainstream schools through shared creative activities.

PLAY has been a year-round theme for Bradford 2025, with activities in schools continuing into 2026. As part of this, we worked with 5 SEND settings and mainstream schools across the Bradford district. Each link was supported by a creative practitioner, with schools coming together for a series of workshops exploring a range of creative approaches – from collaging and zine-making to science experiments.

Supported by their creative practitioner, pupils experimented with different materials, problem solved and enjoyed each other’s company in a creative, non-outcome based setting. Activities ranged from collaging abstract animals to hands-on STEM challenges, like building lava lamps and testing car speeds using recyclable household items.

In early February we were pleased to be joined by ITV Calendar, who reported on a workshop at Chellow Heights Special School. Led by local artist Nicky Storr, pupils from Chellow Heights and Sandy Lane Primary focussed on collaging and mark-making.

PLAY: Common Ground has been a wonderful opportunity to enrich our Special-Mainstream Schools Linking programme. It has been a pleasure to work alongside Bradford 2025, and to continue this work into 2026, ensuring play remains a joyful invitation to explore, imagine and take part.

Click here to watch ITV Calendar’s report on PLAY: Common Ground

Find out more about our Special-Mainstream Schools Linking Programme here