Primary Textiles Resources Workshop (LEIGHTON BUZZARD)

Description

Venue: Linslade Middle School, Mentmore Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2PA
Date: 7th March 2026
Time: 9:30am – 2.00pm
Cost: FREE - (£20 Refundable deposit on attendance)

Join the Textiles Skills Centre for an exciting in-person CPD day designed to introduce Primary Textiles Resources — a brand-new suite of eight creative, curriculum-supporting teaching materials developed with funding from the All Saints Educational Trust.

This free course is perfect for any primary teacher looking to bring textiles into the classroom through fun, hands-on, and inclusive learning experiences. While not curriculum-specific, these activities support both the Art & Design and Design & Technology curricula, with a strong focus on creativity, sustainability, and practical making.

The 8 Primary Textiles Resources explore everything from the basics of “What are textiles?” to sustainability, digital design, and creative making. Each includes:

Primary Resource Titles:

Engaging with textiles offers a hands-on learning experience that helps children develop patience, problem-solving, dexterity, and focus — while nurturing creativity, wellbeing, and collaboration. It’s a subject that builds confidence and a sense of achievement, supporting both emotional and cognitive growth.

This is more than just a training day — it’s a creative experience.
You’ll gain hands-on skills, classroom-ready ideas, and a deeper understanding of the value of textiles in developing pupils’ creativity, confidence, and life skills.

You’ll also meet fellow teachers, share ideas, and learn directly from the course developer and the Textiles Skills Centre team — all within a friendly, supportive environment.

Your course leader is NICKY SIMPSON, a contemporary textiles artist, who has 12 years teaching experience, heading up Fashion & Textiles at a school in Kent. She has taught Art & Design Textiles at GCSE and A Level, Design and Technology/Textiles at GCSE & A Level and BTEC Level 3 Fashion. 

Her last set of grades were: A Level 100% A-A*; GCSE 70% A-A* (100% A*-B). She had a previous 22-year career as a print designer and colourist, creating print ranges for the international market.
Since 2016 Nicky has been a workshop developer and leader for the online and F2F courses for Textiles and Art teachers on behalf of the Textile Skills Centre, including pattern development. Nicky has mentored many graduate trainees, and now mentors many fellow teachers through the TSC mentorship programme.

“Textile candidates’ personal portfolios were brimming with ideas, experiments and references to textile and fashion designers as well as fine artists. Overall, the submission was exceptional in the engagement and industry and imaginative use of materials.’

'In Textiles, the standard of the work was outstanding…The course structure was strong. Finished pieces were often exciting and innovative. The individuality of the candidates was clearly seen in the diversity of colours, styles and techniques carefully annotated in work books and then displayed in the final outcomes.”

“The course gave candidates a very strong framework on which to build a response to the theme. Ideas were developed showing depth and thought so that the work of the highest achieving candidates was original, creative and in-depth.”

This course and the resources have been developed by Textiles Skills Centre with an award from All Saints Educational Trust.