SEND
Sounding Out is Creative Futures’ flagship music programme with deaf children running since 2014, which expanded in 2023/4 to reach 3 mainstream London primary schools with deaf units: Laycock Primary (Islington), Selwyn Primary (Newham), and Hague Primary (Tower Hamlets).
Weekly music sessions are led by specialist music practitioners with small groups of children from Reception to Year 6, with activities adapted to the needs of each group, many of whom have additional needs.
As well as building musical skills, Sounding Out also supports the children’s emotional development, confidence, and speech and communication. A range of musical activities is covered, including singing and vocalisation, playing instruments, improvising, and creating group narrative compositions. Music visualization technology “Sing and See” helps reinforce concepts of high and low pitch, and different timbres and frequencies, thus building knowledge and providing a tool for composition activities with the older children.
“They continually grow in confidence and ability and I have been so impressed with the pieces of music they have composed.” (Teacher of the deaf)
Call and response songs and copying the practitioner’s vocalisations (e.g. making “sound effects” vocally) are particularly successful in encouraging many children to find new ways to explore their voices. This approach supports children’s speech development as well as verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
“It has helped some of our deaf children with situational mutism to build confidence and participate non-verbally in sessions by drumming, whereas before they would just freeze.” (Teacher of the deaf)
We have created a free Sounding Out online toolkit for teachers.
Two project reports are available:
Other SEND projects:
We have delivered a number of other projects in Special Schools including with pupils with profound & multiple learning difficulties (PMLD).
“The teacher seized every opportunity to develop pupils’ skills and deepen their understanding by moving very adeptly from one activity to another and keeping a clear focus on practical activities. Pupils’ learning was exceptionally well supported by the use of pictures, signs and symbols.” (Quotation from an Ofsted inspector’s report about a Creative Futures music and movement lesson for pupils aged 11-18. The session involving young people with profound & multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) was judged “outstanding.”)