New Story Nooks inspire imaginative learning
November 20, 2025 | Press ReleaseArtists, early years practitioners and families come together to transform children’s storytelling, communication and confidence through ArtFULL — a year-long creative action research project with the Pen Green Centre in Corby.
A new creative space for storytelling
Pen Green Centre for Children and Families has unveiled a new set of immersive Story Nooks as part of ArtFULL, a year-long action research project delivered in partnership with Made With Many and supported through a National Lottery project grant from Arts Council England, using funds raised by National Lottery players.
ArtFULL began in early 2025 and explores a central inquiry:
What impact can embedding artists and specialists in early years settings have on children, families and communities?
The project brings specialist early years creative practitioners across the fields of dance and movement, visual arts and storytelling into the setting for sustained periods, investigating how physical literacy, embodied play and creativity can strengthen relationships, communication and emotional connection. Findings from the project show that creative, rhythmic, and movement-based play acts as a powerful bridge between children, practitioners and families.
The project has co-creation and child led decision making at its heart.
Introducing the Story Nook
The new Story Nook is a specially designed creative environment built to nurture imagination, co-creation and emotional connection. Children and staff have already begun using the space to explore stories through movement, sound, sensory materials and collaborative storytelling. There is an outdoor as well as indoor Story Nook space.
The Story Nook was co-designed with the children of Pen Green nursery; and has developed throughout into a wonderful space that can support the legacy of the project. Roma Patel from Makers of Imaginary Worlds, who specialises in creating playful, sensory-rich installations for children, drew together all the wonderful ideas and themes from the children into the final design and build.
Storyteller Mike Payton & nursery children using the Story Nook – photo courtesy of Pen Green
How children and staff are using the Story Nook
Since opening in Autumn 2025, the Story Nook has quickly become a daily destination for groups of children and practitioners. Early observations reveal:
- Children creating and retelling stories through body movement, gesture and improvised play.
- Increased confidence in verbal and non-verbal communication.
- Practitioners shifting from directive teaching to co-authoring stories alongside children, a key impact identified in ArtFULL research.
- Rich emotional interactions — children hide, reveal, wrap and transform materials, exploring themes of safety, separation and connection.
The Nook’s cosy, intimate design mirrors the “holding environments” described in the project’s psychoanalytic research lens, supporting children to feel safe enough to express emotion, take creative risks and co-regulate with adults.
Nursery children enjoying stories with staff – photo courtesy of Pen Green
Flavia Ribeiro, Assistant Head at Pen Green commented:
“We are delighted with our new storytelling space in Nursery – a place designed to spark imagination, creativity and pure joy. The children have embraced it with such enthusiasm: curling up in the storytelling chair to read their favourite books, transforming it into a magical forest for make-believe picnics, and using the panel openings to put on wonderfully inventive puppet shows. This space has become a vibrant hub of creativity, where stories come alive and children can explore, create, and dream. A beautiful legacy for our children to carry on the wonderful work that has happened in co-creation with the artists.”
Artists in Residence – bringing stories to life
Three lead artists have shaped ArtFULL so far:
- Dance artist Liz Clark
- Storyteller and musician Mike Payton
- Visual artist Sophie Cullinan
Children and staff have been working with the artists in long-term creative cycles, a process that research shows has deepened trust, attunement and imaginative flow. Adults are now more confident joining in play, improvising and following children’s rhythms — a major pedagogical shift.
Storyteller Mike Payton:
“Sharing and creating stories with the children of Pen Green has been amazing. We’ve been chased by pirates and sea monsters, blasted into space, had undersea adventures, gone back to dinosaur land and, well, so much more – and now the new Story Nooks are helping us go on even more story adventures! It’s been lovely tapping into the children’s creativity and seeing their verbal confidence grow over the months. What a journey…”
Roma Patel – Artistic Director at Makers of Imaginary Worlds:
“Creating the story nook was a delightful experience. Working alongside storyteller Mike and involving the children in the design process helped us shape a space that nurtures imagination and storytelling. We even transformed the children’s own drawings and interests into shadow puppets, bringing their ideas to life and making the space truly theirs.”
Liz Clark – Director at Turned On Its Head
“Very young children are masters of asking the question “what if” and it has been a delight to support Mike and Sophie to tap into this energy and creative power through their arts practice at Pen Green. Both artists have grown their practice over the year and will be forever changed by the opportunity to work so closely with the staff and children at Pen Green.”
Another piece of work co-created through ArtFULL included The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Sophie Cullinan. We were very proud to also programme this at Made With Many’s Family Arts Festival in Sept 2025, showcasing children’s creative expressions to the wider community.
Training and development for staff
Alongside work with children, the Story Nook is also a space for staff learning. Practitioners are taking part in:
- Reflective video sessions analysing moments of attunement, mis-attunement and embodied communication.
- Artist-led workshops in storytelling, sensory play and physical improvisation.
- Co-research meetings exploring how creative practice shifts pedagogy, emotional literacy and relationships.
ArtFULL has already shown that sustained artistic presence helps practitioners develop a slower tempo, greater attunement and a more relational, co-experiential approach to learning.
Events
A series of storytelling and maker sessions will run in early 2026 in community locations, including family workshops led by the ArtFULL team to share the brilliant work co-created with the children of the Pen Green.
Dates and booking information will be released in December.
Story Nook – photo courtesy of Pen Green
