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UPDATE: As the Aldanat Community Hub isn’t often booked in the evenings right now, we’ll be closing earlier on some nights. If the Hub is booked for the sensory rooms, cinema, or hydro pool, we’ll remain open until those sessions finish. Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we get fully up and running!
Pottery
Hands-on learning through pottery making.
Our Pottery courses offer a creative, hands-on way to explore art while building practical skills. The Foundation course introduces beginners to the basics of working with clay, including hand-building techniques, wheel work, and decorating methods, all in a relaxed and supportive setting. The Intermediate course allows participants to expand their skills, experiment with more advanced techniques, and work on more complex projects. Pottery is not just about making objects — it’s a tactile, calming experience that encourages focus, creativity, and self-expression.
Term 1: 5th Jan - 27th Mar 2026
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Term 2:
Term 3:
13th Apr - 3rd Jul
31st Aug - 4th Dec
- 2027 -
Term 1:
Term 2:
Term 3:
4th Jan - 26th Mar
12th Apr - 2nd Jul
30st Aug - 3rd Dec
Foundation
Foundation Pottery Course
Course Length: 12 weeks
Session Duration: 1 hour per session (2 x sessions per week Monday and Friday this allows for firing and painting)
Group Size: Maximum of 8 learners
Support: 1 x facilitator and 1 x workshop assistant both with experience of working with adults with learning disabilities and sensory impairments.
Course Aims:
By the end of this course, learners will:
Explore pottery through a seasonal creative theme.
Develop foundational hand-building techniques.
Understand clay preparation, drying and firing processes.
Build confidence with texture, decoration and glazing.
Produce one unique item each week.
Create an expressive final piece representing personal growth.
Week 1 – Winter Warmth Pinch Pot
Theme: Comfort & winter warmth.
Create: Pinch pot cup/bowl.
Skills: Pinching, shaping, smoothing.
Week 2 – Snowflake Texture Tile
Theme: Winter patterns & geometry.
Create: Carved/pressed slab tile.
Skills: Texture, carving, slab handling.
Week 3 – Candle Lantern for Winter Nights
Theme: Light in darkness.
Create: Coil-built lantern or candle holder.
Skills: Coil building, structural strength.
Week 4 – Transition Mug or Planter
Theme: Preparing for growth.
Create: Slab-built mug or plant pot.
Skills: Joining techniques, planning form.
Week 5 – Nature Imprint Tray
Theme: Early signs of spring.
Create: Tray/dish using natural textures.
Skills: Slab work, composition, impressions.
Week 6 – Seed Pod Sculpture
Theme: Life hidden beneath the earth.
Create: Seed-pod inspired sculpture/container.
Skills: Sculptural form & stability.
Week 7 – Bird Return Wall Hanging
Theme: Birds return & migration.
Create: Slab wall hanging (bird/feather design).
Skills: Relief work, hanging method.
Week 8 – Bloom Tile (Slip / Sgraffito)
Theme: Flowers begin to emerge.
Create: Decorative tile with slip painting.
Skills: Layering, carving, colour planning.
Week 9 – Spring Growth
Theme: Growth & renewal.
Create: Small vase / bowl / planter.
Skills: Combining pinch, coil & slab techniques.
Week 10 – Surface Design
Theme: Colour & texture in nature.
Create: Decorated surface on previous piece using slip + underglaze.
Skills: Layered decoration, brush control.
Week 11 – Spring Symbol Item
Theme: Celebration of new life.
Create (choose one):
Butterfly ornament.
Blossom sculpture.
Bird feeder or hanging decoration.
Skills: Creative expression & symbolism.
Week 12 – Personal Final Creation
Theme: Transformation – your journey from winter to spring.
Create: A final expressive piece such as:
“Growth” themed planter or bowl.
Abstract sculpture of change.
Mask showing winter vs spring.
Mini collection of 3 linked piece.
Skills: Independent planning & technique selection.
Outcomes
By the end of the programme, learners will be able to:
Understand basic clay types, tools & safety procedures.
Demonstrate skills in pinch, coil & slab-building techniques.
Create functional and decorative ceramic items.
Apply surface decoration using texture, slip & underglaze.
Understand the drying and firing process.
Produce a personal final artwork showing creative development.
Reflect on their artistic journey through a seasonal theme.
Intermediate
Intermediate Pottery Course
Course Length: 12 weeks
Session Duration: 1 hour per session (2 x sessions per week Monday and Friday this allows for firing and painting)
Group Size: Maximum of 8 learners
Support: 1 x facilitator and 1 x workshop assistant both with experience of working with adults with learning disabilities and sensory impairments.
Course Aims:
Learners will:
Strengthen and refine hand-building techniques.
Explore structure, form and creative design.
Develop independent artistic ideas.
Use slip, glaze and surface textures with intention.
Create ambitious pieces each week.
Produce a final expressive ceramic artwork.
Week 1 – Winter Balance: Refined Pinch Forms
Theme: Calm & control.
Create: Set of 2 matching pinch-based items (e.g., small dishes, abstract shapes).
Week 2 – Winter Geometry Tile Series
Theme: Precision & repetition.
Create: 2–3 tiles exploring geometric patterns.
Week 3 – Architectural Lantern
Theme: Light in winter.
Create: Coil-built candle lantern with planned cut-outs.
Week 4 – Desk Organiser
Theme: Preparing for new routines.
Create: Slab-built pen holder / phone stand / desk tray / small organiser.
Skills: Multi-part assemblies, spatial planning, functional design.
Week 5 – Nature Imprint Serving Board
Theme: Nature awakening.
Create: Textured slab-based serving board or flat platter.
Week 6 – Abstract Seed
Theme: Growth beneath the surface.
Create: Abstract seed-pod sculpture / wall-mounted form / figurative shape.
Skills: Balance, weight distribution, double curvature.
Week 7 – Migrating Bird Wall Panel
Theme: Movement across seasons.
Create: Narrative wall panel or layered relief.
Week 8 – Bloom Tile Collection (Slip & Layering)
Theme: Spring colour emerges.
Create: Tile set exploring slip, sgraffito & underglaze.
Week 9 – Spring Themed Object
Theme: Growth & function without vessels.
Create (choose one):
Wind chime / hanging mobile.
Trinket box with lid.
Sculptural wall mount.
Garden marker set.
Skills: Structure, assembly, hinge/lid mechanics (optional).
Week 10 – Advanced Surface Decoration
Theme: Complex textures & contrast.
Create: A tile, pinch pot, coil pot with complex textures using slip or other techniques.
Week 11 – Symbol of Spring (Personal Choice)
Theme: Expression.
Create:
Butterfly or bird sculpture.
Spring mask (face tile or wearable style).
Hanging ornament set.
Week 12 – Final Personal Creation
Theme: Transformation – winter to spring.
Create: Individual final piece showing concept & skill progression.
Could be:
Abstract sculpture.
3–piece ceramic series.
Narrative wall artwork.
Ceramic set demonstrating theme of change.
Outcomes
By the end of the course, learners will:
Demonstrate precise hand-building skills.
Apply design planning and thematic development.
Use slip, underglaze and texture with intention.
Create both functional and sculptural pottery pieces.
Produce a final artwork showing development across the course.
Build a mini portfolio + reflective artist notes.
Show signs of developing an individual style.
Foundation
Foundation Pottery Course
Course Length: 12 weeks
Session Duration: 1 hour per session (2 x sessions per week Monday and Friday this allows for firing and painting)
Group Size: Maximum of 8 learners
Support: 1 x facilitator and 1 x workshop assistant both with experience of working with adults with learning disabilities and sensory impairments.
Course Aims:
By the end of this course, learners will:
Explore pottery through a seasonal creative theme.
Develop foundational hand-building techniques.
Understand clay preparation, drying and firing processes.
Build confidence with texture, decoration and glazing.
Produce one unique item each week.
Create an expressive final piece representing personal growth.
Week 1 – Winter Warmth Pinch Pot
Theme: Comfort & winter warmth.
Create: Pinch pot cup/bowl.
Skills: Pinching, shaping, smoothing.
Week 2 – Snowflake Texture Tile
Theme: Winter patterns & geometry.
Create: Carved/pressed slab tile.
Skills: Texture, carving, slab handling.
Week 3 – Candle Lantern for Winter Nights
Theme: Light in darkness.
Create: Coil-built lantern or candle holder.
Skills: Coil building, structural strength.
Week 4 – Transition Mug or Planter
Theme: Preparing for growth.
Create: Slab-built mug or plant pot.
Skills: Joining techniques, planning form.
Week 5 – Nature Imprint Tray
Theme: Early signs of spring.
Create: Tray/dish using natural textures.
Skills: Slab work, composition, impressions.
Week 6 – Seed Pod Sculpture
Theme: Life hidden beneath the earth.
Create: Seed-pod inspired sculpture/container.
Skills: Sculptural form & stability.
Week 7 – Bird Return Wall Hanging
Theme: Birds return & migration.
Create: Slab wall hanging (bird/feather design).
Skills: Relief work, hanging method.
Week 8 – Bloom Tile (Slip / Sgraffito)
Theme: Flowers begin to emerge.
Create: Decorative tile with slip painting.
Skills: Layering, carving, colour planning.
Week 9 – Spring Growth
Theme: Growth & renewal.
Create: Small vase / bowl / planter.
Skills: Combining pinch, coil & slab techniques.
Week 10 – Surface Design
Theme: Colour & texture in nature.
Create: Decorated surface on previous piece using slip + underglaze.
Skills: Layered decoration, brush control.
Week 11 – Spring Symbol Item
Theme: Celebration of new life.
Create (choose one):
Butterfly ornament.
Blossom sculpture.
Bird feeder or hanging decoration.
Skills: Creative expression & symbolism.
Week 12 – Personal Final Creation
Theme: Transformation – your journey from winter to spring.
Create: A final expressive piece such as:
“Growth” themed planter or bowl.
Abstract sculpture of change.
Mask showing winter vs spring.
Mini collection of 3 linked piece.
Skills: Independent planning & technique selection.
Outcomes
By the end of the programme, learners will be able to:
Understand basic clay types, tools & safety procedures.
Demonstrate skills in pinch, coil & slab-building techniques.
Create functional and decorative ceramic items.
Apply surface decoration using texture, slip & underglaze.
Understand the drying and firing process.
Produce a personal final artwork showing creative development.
Reflect on their artistic journey through a seasonal theme.
Read more ▼
Intermediate
Intermediate Pottery Course
Course Length: 12 weeks
Session Duration: 1 hour per session (2 x sessions per week Monday and Friday this allows for firing and painting)
Group Size: Maximum of 8 learners
Support: 1 x facilitator and 1 x workshop assistant both with experience of working with adults with learning disabilities and sensory impairments.
Course Aims:
Learners will:
Strengthen and refine hand-building techniques.
Explore structure, form and creative design.
Develop independent artistic ideas.
Use slip, glaze and surface textures with intention.
Create ambitious pieces each week.
Produce a final expressive ceramic artwork.
Week 1 – Winter Balance: Refined Pinch Forms
Theme: Calm & control.
Create: Set of 2 matching pinch-based items (e.g., small dishes, abstract shapes).
Week 2 – Winter Geometry Tile Series
Theme: Precision & repetition.
Create: 2–3 tiles exploring geometric patterns.
Week 3 – Architectural Lantern
Theme: Light in winter.
Create: Coil-built candle lantern with planned cut-outs.
Week 4 – Desk Organiser
Theme: Preparing for new routines.
Create: Slab-built pen holder / phone stand / desk tray / small organiser.
Skills: Multi-part assemblies, spatial planning, functional design.
Week 5 – Nature Imprint Serving Board
Theme: Nature awakening.
Create: Textured slab-based serving board or flat platter.
Week 6 – Abstract Seed
Theme: Growth beneath the surface.
Create: Abstract seed-pod sculpture / wall-mounted form / figurative shape.
Skills: Balance, weight distribution, double curvature.
Week 7 – Migrating Bird Wall Panel
Theme: Movement across seasons.
Create: Narrative wall panel or layered relief.
Week 8 – Bloom Tile Collection (Slip & Layering)
Theme: Spring colour emerges.
Create: Tile set exploring slip, sgraffito & underglaze.
Week 9 – Spring Themed Object
Theme: Growth & function without vessels.
Create (choose one):
Wind chime / hanging mobile.
Trinket box with lid.
Sculptural wall mount.
Garden marker set.
Skills: Structure, assembly, hinge/lid mechanics (optional).
Week 10 – Advanced Surface Decoration
Theme: Complex textures & contrast.
Create: A tile, pinch pot, coil pot with complex textures using slip or other techniques.
Week 11 – Symbol of Spring (Personal Choice)
Theme: Expression.
Create:
Butterfly or bird sculpture.
Spring mask (face tile or wearable style).
Hanging ornament set.
Week 12 – Final Personal Creation
Theme: Transformation – winter to spring.
Create: Individual final piece showing concept & skill progression.
Could be:
Abstract sculpture.
3–piece ceramic series.
Narrative wall artwork.
Ceramic set demonstrating theme of change.
Outcomes
By the end of the course, learners will:
Demonstrate precise hand-building skills.
Apply design planning and thematic development.
Use slip, underglaze and texture with intention.
Create both functional and sculptural pottery pieces.
Produce a final artwork showing development across the course.
Build a mini portfolio + reflective artist notes.
Show signs of developing an individual style.