Funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Talking Cameras is a unique three-year research programme, led by Dr Bev Briggs, Creative Producer at The Forge and developed in partnership with Liz Sanderson, Deputy Head at The Dales School, a specialist primary setting in Northumberland. It explores how photography supports young SEND learners to communicate, be creative, and tell their own stories.

Devised in response to findings from The Forge’s earlier Teaching Things Differently programme, where teachers from mainstream settings reported that photography-based learning had the strongest impact on SEND pupils and other vulnerable learners, Talking Cameras examines how SEND settings can incorporate photography to support children’s social, cultural and academic development.

Three artists/photographers (Madeleine Waller, Lindsay Duncanson and Victoria Doyle) worked closely with The Dales’ teaching staff to develop a series of workshops aimed at strengthening children’s agency, developing their creative confidence, supporting communication skills, and enriching their experiences in school. By incorporating professional development opportunities into the programme, we ensured that teachers would have the confidence to deliver this work themselves.

Creative outcomes include: exhibitions of children’s photographs at Blyth Community Hospital and Wansbeck General Hospital, exhibitions inside and outside the school settings, and at community events. The project has been featured in nasenConnect (the journal for the National Association for Special Educational Needs) and presented at Northumbria University’s Have Some Imagination: Towards a Manifesto for Arts Education conference (BALTIC, 2025). A filmed beginner’s guide to photography, created by The Dales children to support their those new to digital photography (adults or children) can be found here.

We are sure you’ll agree that it’s the best “How to use a camera” film ever created.

Further photography-focused teaching resources are available - if you are interested in finding out more – please get in touch!