Music development plan summary:

Doubletrees School

Doubletrees school is a SEND school for learners aged 2-19 with severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties and it is a member of the Special Partnership Trust.

We have three learning pathways within school. The pre-formal learning pathway, known as Engagement, where learners follow the Engagement Model. The Exploration cohort is a semi-formal learning pathway, where learners access the pre-requisites to learning and the early stages of the National Curriculum. The third pathway is our Discovery pathway, where learners access the National curriculum through formal learning opportunities. We have an EYFS and Post 14 provision.

Our learners are complex and diverse, and we take a personalised learning approach to our curriculum, making adaptations to ensure that learning is accessible to all. Music is highly evident across the school. We use it as part of our routines, in lessons, therapy sessions, sensology and positive touch sessions.

We aim to create a learning environment that empowers students to become creative, imaginative explorers in Music. Giving them access to a range of musical styles, instruments and experiences. Using our core values, we aim to develop Musical skill and engagement so that our learners can continue to enjoy and explore music in their future lives after Doubletrees.

 

Overview

'Enjoying our Drums4Fun sessions with Graham and Grace'

This is a summary of how our school delivers music education to all our pupils across three areas – curriculum music,                    co-curricular provision and musical experiences – and what changes we are planning in future years. 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

This is about what we teach in lesson time, how much time is spent teaching music and any music qualifications or awards that pupils can achieve.

Music is embedded in our planning and delivered through Charanga in our classes that access the curriculum. These classes teach Music lessons for at least 6 weeks of every term. Charanga units are included in the long-term plan to provide varied opportunities, support skill progression, and prevent repetition during students' school years. Many of these classes also have time allocated on their timetable for sing and sign opportunities delivered through singing hands, Charanga resources or Melody Signs amongst others. We assess learners' musical engagement using the Sounds of Intent (SOI) framework, including an adapted version for EYFS in early years classes. In pre-formal classes, we successfully implement Soundabout at suitable SOI levels, along with Sensology, Soundbaths, Positive Touch, and Atmospherics. The school Makaton choir meets weekly and has previously performed at the Christmas fayre for parents and staff, as well as at the Singing Hands concert at the Keay theatre in St Austell. The choir anticipates additional performance opportunities next year.

Part B: Co-curricular music

This is about opportunities for pupils to sing and play music, outside of lesson time, including choirs, ensembles and bands, and how pupils can make progress in music beyond the core curriculum.

We also have Open orchestra run by school music leads Nikki Williamson, Jo Conac with help and guidance from Sinne Brock from the Cornwall Music Service Trust. We meet regularly with Steve Hawker from the CSMT who advises on funding and the running of the orchestra.

We have built up slowly to a larger orchestra and had upper school members take part over the past year. We have not yet done a public performance but look forward to planning one for Christmas this year. Our rehearsals for choir take place in our large hall space and this hall booking is prioritised to ensure that choir does take place weekly.

Our orchestra takes place in the library and others are advised not to interrupt the session which works well. We use the library for music therapy sessions with Karen Jones funded by Cornwall music Service Trust. We also use the library for individual music tuition with Sinne Brock on a Tuesday. This has been heavily subsidised this year for learners with free school meals and an EHCP which made the lessons very popular.

Due to the nature of our school we do not have individual practice rooms but learners are encouraged to choose musical instruments as a choice article in their classrooms.

There are HOP bags, full of learner’s favourite items which, often have instruments in, instruments are available to reach for in most classrooms or learners have environmental symbols available which mean they can ask for a drum or other instrument. Many of our learners use whistles or drums to regulate and calm themselves when distressed or dysregulated these are available in accessible drawers or offered to learners when they need them.

This year we had several staff bringing in new instruments to share with their classes and many learners enjoyed having a go as well. We also enjoyed performances from locals who let us try their instruments.

'Royal College of Music performance in the hall, organised by the Boconnoc music festival'

Part C: Musical experiences

This is about all the other musical events and opportunities that we organise, such as singing in assembly, concerts and shows, and trips to professional concerts.

We love performances and visitors at Doubletrees and this year we have hosted the following:

• Apollo, a string quartet from the Royal College of Music organised by the Boconnoc music festival who performed to the whole school

• For International Music day we had a drumming workshop from Graham at Drums4Fun assisted by volunteers and an ex pupil

• The Garker Street Band led by Rob Strickland on his saxophone who did a walking tour around the school with Nancy the singer.

• The Kesson Tuc Singers, a male voice choir from Truro, wowed us with their local Cornish songs. Some of our older pupils practised the Makaton signs and stood up the front to join in.

• We also enjoyed a Pantomime from M&M theatre company.

• and a multi sensory performance from Moonbeam Theatre which transported us to the garden, two totally different performances which provided something for everyone

Rob Strickland and his sax from the Garker Street Band!

In the future

This is about what the school is planning for subsequent years.

In the new Autumn term we look forward to Moonbeam theatre returning for more performances. Open orchestra, individual music tuition and music therapy are all set up to continue in September. Charanga subscription will continue and next year everyone will start to complete their sounds of intent assessments again. We gained an Artsmark Silver Award last year and the judges were interested and impressed to hear that we use the SOI method of assessment and look forward to hearing more about it. We have found the biggest most important benefit is that it has helped us to better understand our learner’s reactive, proactive and interactive levels of engagement with music and sound. This has enabled us to better plan for them when differentiating and preparing resources in music, phonics, communication and speaking & listening lessons. This year we will be applying to start the Artsmark process again so that we can continue to improve on our Arts provision including music at the school.