Music Service launches sessions for youngsters with SEND
Wolverhampton Music Service is launching out-of-school music sessions for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The sessions, starting next month at Action for Independence, Albert Road, will be run by Big Top Musical Adventures and have been devised following consultation with schools and local parents of children and young people with SEND.
There will be weekly term-time sessions for children with autism, social anxiety or learning disabilities taking place on Tuesday evenings from 6.30pm-7.15pm.
There will also be weekly Tuesday sessions with a change of focus each week, targeted at specific ages and needs, including sessions for under 11s with moderate learning difficulties, for 11 to 18-year-olds with moderate or severe learning disabilities and for children and young people with profound and complex learning disabilities.
Each session will explore music-making in a supportive and structured environment and are designed for children and young people who enjoy music, along with their parents, carers and siblings.
Wolverhampton Music Service’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead and Assistant Head Sarah Tulley said: “I’m delighted about the launch of our new inclusive music sessions, which will enable more children and young people to access meaningful music-making.
"The Music Service is part of the council’s Educational Excellence team, and we work together to understand priorities for embedding inclusion in our teaching and learning.
"We are trying to remove barriers for young people, and we are working with Big Top Musical Adventures along with schools, parents and carers to tailor the sessions so that they are as engaging and enjoyable as possible.”
Councillor Chris Burden, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Work, said: “This is a great opportunity for youngsters with SEND to enjoy some exciting music-making opportunities with Wolverhampton Music Service; this is sure to be popular so I would encourage parents and guardians to book their place as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.”
For full details of the programme, please visit www.wolverhamptonmusicservice.org.uk/inclusive-out-of-school-music-sessions.
Wolverhampton Music Service provides quality teaching for children and young people across the city, including the chance to perform with one of its 13 groups – bands, orchestras, choirs, percussion groups. To find out more, please visit www.wolverhamptonmusichub.org.uk.
