Who We Work With

We are active across the UK and internationally, working in nurseries, primary and secondary schools, sixth forms and colleges, universities, businesses, hospitals, prisons, pupil referral units, virtual schools, residential homes, clubs, pubs, libraries, museums, galleries, theatres, cinemas, and heritage sites, as well as parks, woods, and green spaces.

By facilitating conversations with diverse communities in these settings, and by supporting others to do the same, we work hard to bring the benefits of philosophical enquiry to everyone.

We work in nurseries and pre-schools across the UK, as well as EYFS provision within schools, to support staff to help very young children develop their language and oracy skills. Our trainers and partners are involved in innovative EYFS projects such as Talk with Tales for Children and we have a range of resources for early years enquiry.

We work schools of all shapes and sizes to embed Philosophy for Children (P4C) as a whole-school approach to teaching and learning – including small rural schools, specialist and SEND schools, and large Multi Academy Trusts. Through our accredited training and ongoing support, teachers are equipped to facilitate high-quality philosophical enquiry in the classroom, enabling students to think critically and communicate effectively while realising school development priorities such as oracy, wellbeing, and inclusion. Alongside training, we offer high quality teaching resources, professional coaching and departmental and school awards that ensure P4C becomes part of the fabric of school life.

The ability to think critically, listen carefully, and speak clearly is particularly important for students in further education, as they prepare for the complexities of adult life, careers, and higher education. Thoughtful’s work with FE colleges includes training and resources for lecturers, as well as workshops for college students. These programmes enhance academic learning, support personal development, deepen vocational learning, and address some of the challenging and controversial issues raised by 16–19-year-olds. Our FE clients include The Manchester College.

Collaboration with Universities and providers of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) is an essential part of our aim to realise the benefits of philosophical education as widely and equitably as possible. We work with Higher Education Institutions that research philosophical enquiry, practise P4C in their teaching, and train others to do the same, and by coordinating networks of colleagues engaged in similar work and by connecting them to local P4C schools and communities, we all learn from each other. As well as partnerships with universities on projects and research, our services to universities include training and consultancy.

Thoughtful works with heritage partners, including the National Trust, to engage with historic artworks, artefacts and architecture and to understand their cultural – often colonial – past. Our collaborations have raised questions of power, privilege and justice, building on the global histories work undertaken by experts in the field.

Thoughtful works with museums and galleries such as Towner Eastbourne, to engage art audiences in philosophical conversations about the ideas and experiences offered by artworks, art spaces and artistic practices. This work includes site-specific workshops for communities and schools and innovative training courses that help cultural professionals and classroom teachers to use Aesthetic Enquiry in their own practice.

Thoughtful works with theatres such as Beam Hertford, theatre-makers, and drama teachers, to engage people all ages and backgrounds in some of the intriguing ideas raised by theatre, drama and storytelling. As well as working directly with theatre and cinema audiences in immersive workshops, our Dramatic Enquiry training courses support teachers and other creative professionals to use Dramatic Enquiry in to engage audiences and enrich learning.

Thoughtful’s work in prisons includes workshops for prisoners and training and resources for prison staff. This work is made possible though partnerships and projects with experts in the field including Blue Cabin, specialists in creative work with care-experienced and incarcerated young people, Andy West, prison educator and author, and Thoughtful Trainer Anne Echevarria who works with the prison education team in the North East of England.

Philosophical enquiry thrives in stimulating environments and philosophising outdoors is an excellent way to spark conversation about nature and our place in it. Thoughtful practitioners have led enquiries in forests and parks and on beaches and rivers and previous collaborations such as The Place Project have demonstrated the value, thinking in, about and with nature, free from the constraints of seats and screens.  Our Environmental Enquiry course share these insights with teachers and outdoor practitioners.