Music Development Plan

This is a summary of how our school delivers music education to all our pupils across three areas
Curriculum music
Co-curricular provision
Musical experiences.

This information is to help pupils and parents or carers understand what our school offers and who we work with to support our pupils’ music education.

Part A: Curriculum music
As a special school, pupils are typically working significantly below their chronological age however this is not to say that some pupils do not have a special interest in Music and learning musical instruments.

Our school acknowledge that some pupils are working within the KS1 curriculum (regardless of age). For these pupils Music is taught through the school themes and joined with drama-based opportunities to bring Music to life through singing, performing whilst developing technical, constructive and express musical knowledge. Typically, pupils will have one afternoon a week for their creative curriculum of Music and Drama for the three half terms identified across the year.

For those pupils working at pre key stage standards, Music is taught through an immersive continuous provision focusing on the priorities of their Education and Health Care plan targets. Music is an essential aspect of this provision as it supports pupils to draw their attention to a stimulus through different types and styles of Music. Music is used to support pupils’ sensory tolerances, attention and engagement, communication and thinking skills. The strategies to incorporate Music include singing songs and Rhymes, using Music as a que for transitioning within their daily routine, relaxation and personal interests.

For those pupils who show a keen and special interest and/or skill in Music, this is personalised to ensure they can make progress and succeed through their individual targets

Part B: Co-curricular music

Currently there are no pupils who can access afterschool extra curriculum Music opportunities as most of the pupils’ travel after school by transport.

In school we have a range of instruments for staff to use to support Music within school including:
Percussion instruments
Keyboards

Part C: Musical experiences
In our school, pupils have assemblies where singing and songs are used as a form of collective celebration.

In addition, we provide pupils with the opportunity to experience a variety of Musical experiences throughout the academic year including:
School choir
Singing at public events
Visits to the theatre (e.g. annual pantomime visit)

In the future

As a school we value Music and what it can bring to our pupils. As a result, our priorities for this year to further develop the Music provision are:
 Develop Music expertise within our staff team
 Expand the range of instruments that pupils can access
 Develop a range of enrichment opportunities to play and sing
 Engage with our local Music Hub programme to review our Music provision.