How museums are supporting early years development

Mini Wonders is a research and development programme exploring how museums and galleries can play a transformative role in the lives of children aged two to four and their families.

Developed by Art Fund in partnership with Nesta, the UK’s innovation agency for social good, the programme aims to test and refine approaches that engage families and help more children across the UK be school-ready by the time they enter education.

Why museums, and why now?

Museums are trusted and accessible environments where generations can come together to learn and play. We spoke at GEM (Group for Education in Museums) Conference earlier this month about how learning professionals in museums can create imaginative learning opportunities for young children, yet we recognise that too many children miss out on this as a formative experience.

Art Fund wants this to change. For more than 120 years, we’ve championed museums and galleries, supporting collections, investing in professional development and helping institutions reach wider audiences. With Mini Wonders, we’re now applying this mission to a very important area: early childhood.

Early childhood is an important and influential period in life, when skills in communication, social interaction, emotional regulation and imagination are shaped. Interventions at this formative stage can have lasting effects, not just for individuals but for families and communities at large.

The evidence behind the programme

We’ve used an evidence-informed approach for Mini Wonders. Nesta’s Fairer Start mission, that every child should have the same chance to thrive, regardless of background, links closely to this work. Nesta’s research highlights the importance of the home learning environment and the central role of parents and caregivers in supporting early development.

To ensure that the programme draws on best practice, we’re working closely with Professor Crispin Day, a leading developer of evidence-based parenting programmes. His work highlights how children and families do not currently receive the support they need. Programmes like Mini Wonders aim to change this in accessible, trusted spaces like museums.

The syllabus developed for Mini Wonders focuses on social and emotional development, helping children build resilience, confidence and creativity. These pillars are aligned with broader government ambitions, including the target for 75% of children to be school-ready by 2028.

Welcoming new partner museums

A milestone for Mini Wonders in 2025 is the expansion of the network of museums participating in the research and development phase.

The new partners are:

• Barnsley Museums, Barnsley
• Perth Art Gallery, Perth
• Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery, Merthyr Tydfil
• FE McWilliam Gallery, Banbridge
• Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, Norfolk
• Discovery Museum, North East Museums, Newcastle upon Tyne
• The Bluecoat, Liverpool

By joining the programme, these museums will be testing how cultural spaces can contribute directly to children’s development, community wellbeing and the sustainability of the learning sector.

Learning through practice

Now, 15 museums are acting as test-and-learn partners in the project, trialling new approaches and sharing learnings that can shape future practice across the sector. Each Mini Wonders block is delivered as a series of eight weekly group sessions for caregivers and their children aged two to four.

In Leeds, Mini Wonders takes place for two-and-a-half hours each Thursday morning in the atmospheric setting of the Industrial Museum at Armley Mills. Its learning and access officer, Eve Phethean, says: “Speaking to parents about tips and strategies to support their child’s development is a lot easier when they’re actually engaged in a creative activity themselves. It feels a lot less pressurised.”

“It’s the actual engagement – doing activities together as well… When do you spend two hours with your child, just focusing on the two of you? I think that’s quite rare for a lot of families, because if you’re at home, you’re doing other stuff, or if you’re at a ‘stay and play’, there’s more focus on them doing things on their own. That’s the difference in Mini Wonders.”

While each participating museum tailors its approach to the needs of its local community, all are building a shared evidence base that demonstrates the unique value of museums in the early years ecosystem.

Museums’ place in early years

As we discussed at GEM Conference, the value of museums in communities, their ability to fuel imaginations and their potential role in supporting families cannot be overstated.

With increasing pressure on public services and community life, museums have an opportunity to reimagine their role. Through programmes like Mini Wonders, the museum sector can help ensure every child, regardless of background, has the chance to develop to their full potential.

Mini Wonders has been jointly created and funded by Art Fund, through a generous legacy grant from the Foyle Foundation, and Nesta.