The Value of Music Making for SEND Pupils

NYMAZ, the youth music development charity operating in North Yorkshire, has released a new short film advocating music-making activities in Special Schools.

The film focuses on the positive experiences of Welburn Hall School, explaining the huge impact music has made – from the perspective of both teachers and pupils.

“Unquantifiable…it brings out the best in our young people”

“It allows children to shine in all sorts of ways, aids their physical development and helps them access other areas of learning.”

“It makes everyone proud to be part of something so good”

Heidi Johnson, director of NYMAZ, comments: “Music is now such an essential part of life at Welburn Hall School that the Head Teacher is committed to ongoing investment in it. Music has enabled pupils to improve their personal skills and physical development as well as assisting their learning in other areas and helping with mood control. It has also provided an unparalleled source of enjoyment and the pupils regularly enjoy whole school singing and signing sessions as well as giving performances.

We hope that our film will encourage other Music Hubs to feel inspired by what can be achieved and to consider their offer to Special Schools. We also hope that individual schools will be moved to explore the benefits music could bring to their pupils.”

The North Yorkshire Music Hub originally offered one-year funding to all Special Schools in the county to enable the provision of music-making activities. Welburn Hall took up this support and this film demonstrates how the school uses a mixture of internal and external providers such as Accessible Arts & Media and Live Music Now to deliver participatory music for all abilities.

Activities on offer include workshops with the resident musician who is with the school each week, class music lessons, through to one-to-one sessions with the iMuse programme, an interactive multi-sensory environment which has been designed to allow those with more profound difficulties to engage with music.

Any Special Schools or Music Hubs interested in considering music-making activities for children and young people with SEND are invited to join the NYMAZ SEND Music Network. Membership is free of charge and provides access to online training, networking events and e-bulletins featuring the latest sector news. Find out more at www.nymaz.org.uk/our-networks