Teachers - would there be any interest in this at your school? Can I make a go of this idea?

[Sewinginschools]

I've name changed for this as my current project makes my very identifiable locally to my fellow mumsnetters.

Is there any call for freelance sewing/ fabric art workshops within primary schools?

I'm currently doing a project with dd2s preschool. I've worked individually with each child to help them to decorate their own handprints on felts attaching buttons/sequins etc and doing random stitches. I then aim to use the handprints to make a piece of fabric wall art (patchwork) as a sign welcoming people to the preschool with each child's work sewn onto it.

I'm doing this for my own fun and as a thank you to the preschool who are fabulous.

But it's got me thinking about it as a business idea.

Would schools be interested in having individuals come in to work on either a one-to-one level or in small groups to do sewing with a view to creating quality fabric wall art.

Would there be any funding for it?

Am thinking of doing it either as a whole school project or possibly just individual classes?

My next plan is to approach dd1s headmaster with a view to doing some sewing with some older children (maybe year 4) and get a feel for teaching to older children.

Is it something you could see your school being interested in? Does anything like this exist already?

Many thanks for your thoughts.

We certainly have a parent who runs a similar club in school at lunchtime...but for free. In this economic climate the school would not pay for this. Sorry.

We employed a batik artist in the area to come in and work with the children, and we've also had a potter and a sculptor. They made some fantastic pieces that were worth the fee.
So it might work, if you had the enormous public liability insurance required and a portfolio of work so the school could see what the possibilities were.
The challenge is that you are offering something that the school has the capability to do themselves if they were so inclined. We didn't have the equipment for either of our projects which is why they were outsourced.

I teach Reception and yes we'd love something like this. A big decider in our school about whether we access things like this is cost as I know a lot of schools are limited for money etc

It sounds quite similar to some of the art/design projects DD did at primary school during lessons tbh. They had a design club too, There was a small charge to cover materials - I don't think the lady who ran it got paid. Its a lovely idea, but I really doubt its workable as a business proposition.

Thanks all, I'd suspected it'd be something I'd have to do for fun rather than money.... Which would be fine for a while but ultimately I will have to return to paid employment in a few years time!

Thank you all

Do it for fun, and as a 'public service' then - a potential employer in future is likely to see it as a good thing to have been doing in the non-paid-employment years

Do it for fun and build that portfolio!
I did something like this in a Y3 class as an autumn hanging, leaves with metallic embroidery threads and extra bits as berries and stuff.
Made it in sections and sewed it to a backing. had outstanding TAs and parent help, and got most of the materials from a scrap bank.

I'm doing it for fun now and do intend to continue that into our local primary school later in the year, so will just stick to that plan.

Was just idly pondering if there was a bigger future for it....

Am planning a PGCE in 2 years, so it's all experience. Will see how the next few years pan out. I'd googled and not found anything similar, wondered if the power of mumsnetters knew of anything.

We have one of these in school that was made many a year ago now (1997). Each child printed their hand in metallic paint, then embellished it with a button and stitching.

It was made by an artist in residence who offered their services for the price of their supply fee and the materials needed.
If you want to google it, then search for the term 'artist in residence textiles' or something similar.

Not a teacher but as a business idea- what about setting up a sewing (or craft) party business? My daughter is in Y4 and has enjoyed sewing and would probably like knitting and other crafty things. I bought her a French knitting doll for Christmas thinking that it would be easy to teach her (it says 6+ on the box!) but I couldn't understand the instructions.

Doing it for fun at a primary school could be good market research because you could find out what sort of projects are doable by each age range and what colours/materials they enjoy.

It sounds more like something a PTA might fund tbh, maybe put some feelers out to them?

We have a similar class where the person charges £45 a term for an after school class.

It is certainly something our school would use and happily pay for during a 'creative' week but not something we'd on a regular basis.

I don't think most schools can afford this to be honest. Perhaps you could offer some free taster sessions and put the feelers out to headteachers whether they would pay for this in the long term.
Also ask on the headteacher forum of TES whether this is something that schools would pay for. community.tes.co.uk/forums/71.aspx

Sewing has a lot of positives that schools would like e.g. hand eye coordination, fine motor skills (to improve handwriting etc). It's good for a calm atmosphere and for behaviour. It's also nice for creativity and as a life skill for mending clothes which seems to have dissapeared in the age of cheap primark clothes. It would be important to emphasise these benefits to headteachers. Good luck. I hope it works out. I would have liked to have seen this in my classroom.

You could also try linking this to big school events and schools would be more likely to pay for it then e.g. easter sewing, anti bullying batiks during anti bullying week, Cross stitch xmas cards etc, world book day etc.