A pilot cross-over randomised controlled trial of child-focused process and outcome evaluation of arts therapies at primary mainstream schools: study protocol

Background: Arts therapies are increasingly being adopted within schools to alleviate and prevent a wide range of children’s difficulties. Such therapies help to facilitate personal change and growth through arts media; visual arts, music, drama, dance and movement. Methods: This study aims to investigate the child-focused process and outcomes of an arts therapies intervention through child-reported questionnaires, interviews, participant observations, arts-work and biomarkers. The participants are 64 primary school children with mild emotional and behavioural difficulties. Expected results: To explore a) whether all components of the study (i.e. recruitment, randomisation, follow-up) can work together in a larger trial; b) the children's evaluations of arts therapies;c) the impact on children's wellbeing, quality of life and sleep; d) the sample size calculations and cost evaluations for future research. This is the first study to embrace all arts therapies as one research domain with a clear focus on children’s verbal, non-verbal and physical responses.