Music training to support children with SEND
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) is delighted to be able to develop SEND Music training to support and improve the delivery of music sessions with nursery-aged children, specifically those with special educational needs and disabilities.
NDNA will offer training to support 15 settings across five regions as part of an exciting new funded music training opportunity. The charity has been awarded £75,000 funding from The Foyle Foundation and the Eastern Counties Educational Trust (ECET), which will specifically support settings in areas of deprivation.
The aim of the 24-week bespoke music programme is to provide childcare practitioners with research and practice-based knowledge of how children with SEND engage musically.
With this knowledge, practitioners will be able to help improve musical engagement, musical skills and the social-emotional and language development outcomes for children with SEND in a nursery setting.
Stella Ziolkowski, NDNA’s Director of Quality and Training said: “We are very excited about this new training course and are very grateful to the Foyle Foundation and ECET for their support. Music can support attention and focus, enhance short term and working memory and provide opportunities to encourage decision-making and planning. It can develop and enhance physical motor skills and promote an increase in emotional wellbeing. We hope this will really help settings to give their children the best outcomes.”
The programme has been written by Camilla Farrant, Head Music Therapist at Music Therapy Tree, which provides music therapy to vulnerable children and young people across London.
The programme will be delivered by Camilla online via pre-recorded videos, an online handbook containing supporting resources and live webinars.
Speaking about the programme, Camilla said: “Inclusion in music is about embracing every child’s unique musicality and expressivity. Through a child-directed, flexible approach to music-making, we can see communication and relationship grow in all children.”
A series of seven online learning sessions will be provided every three to four weeks, with a focus on a different topic each time. The seven learning sessions will include practical skills and techniques on topics such as engagement and interaction, emotional expression, physical engagement and autism spectrum disorders.
NDNA are delighted to be working with Corporate Partner Hope who will be donating a range of musical instruments in support of this new programme.
The benefits of the programme will extend to support parents of children with SEND by providing resources and ideas to work musically with their children at home.
To take part in the programme settings must be based in England, have children with additional needs regularly attending the nursery and be committed to completing all seven sessions in the 24-week period. Priority will be given to settings in areas of deprivation, with a high proportion of children with additional needs.
For more information contact Amy Stoddart – 01484 624102, [email protected]
- England
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