SIOW Music, Turner Sims, Orchestra’s Live and Aurora Orchestra collaborated to deliver a full day of interactive music-making sessions at Springwell School, creating an exceptional impact on pupils with a range of SEND needs.

Springwell provides specialist support for pupils with diverse SEND needs. This was a particularly important opportunity, as prior to this visit, Springwell had not experienced external practitioners who were able to establish such deep, immediate connections with their learners. This created a unique opportunity for us to demonstrate inclusive practice at its best.

The Aurora Team facilitated a series of hands-on music workshops designed to:

• Encourage creative exploration

• Promote communication through sound and rhythm

• Build confidence through active participation

• Support personal expression in a safe, sensory-friendly environment

Throughout the sessions, practitioners adapted responsively to pupil needs, ensuring each child could engage at their own level and pace.

The sessions created a “buzz” around the school, with pupils continuing to talk about the experience throughout the day, with staff describing the atmosphere as energised and joyful.

‘We were blown away by the session and the amazing interactions the team had with the children. Their response to the music and musicians was incredible and we hope to have them back again soon!’

“Seeing the children engage and interact with both the team and the music they were creating was very special. We have never had people in school who have built interactions with pupils in the way the Aurora team did.” - Springwell

Both the school, SIOW Music Hub and Turner Sims are exploring opportunities for further collaborative SEND-focused music provision. There will be a further two days of workshops led by Aurora Orchestra, funded by Orchestras Live and support by SIOW Music taking place at the school later this year.

The visit clearly demonstrated the impact that highquality, inclusive music-making can have on pupils with SEND. The Aurora Team provided an exceptional experience—one that was both meaningful and memorable for the children involved. SIOW Music Hub is proud to support such transformative work and looks forward to deepening this partnership with Springwell School. Springwell School.

"Imagine and Create" is a brand new resource by SIOW Music to encourage creativity and different ways of responding to sights and sounds.

What is Imagine & Create?

Imagine & Create is a brand-new digital music education resource developed by our hub, acting on feedback from schools and SEND settings to inspire creativity in young musicians. The idea came from conversations with SEND settings who wanted ideas for composing and creating musical ideas, but it can be used in all kinds of environments from Early Years to older children.

Each "Imagine and Create"  includes a 5 minute video based on a theme, with different sections matched to different pieces of music that combine engaging soundscapes with striking visuals, each themed around familiar classroom topics. Designed to spark imagination, these videos invite children the chance to improvise, move, explore and compose music in a playful, accessible way.

How to use Imagine & Create:

Each video has an accompanying teacher’s resource pack which features different starting points to explore the video with children, from drawing and moving, to oracy and language work, to composing and improvising sounds. The resources offer practical guidance, ideas, and activities on how to make use of the resources and help embed music-making into everyday classroom learning. These resources are linked in the description of each video.

The music in the video can be faded to be in the background, with the children putting in their own sounds, or it can be used as a focus for physical response or for playing along (the tracks are in C).

The resource document is just a starting point and we would love to know how you have used the videos and to see or hear any of the responses that your children have made.

What Imagine & Create themes would you like to see?

We are planning two "Imagine and Create" videos each term. So far we have "Train Journeys" and "Fireworks" available. "Space" and "Ocean" are in the planning stages for the Spring Term. Are there any themes that you would like us to explore? Do get in touch via music@siowmusic.org

Imagine & Create

Access the Imagine & Create videos on our YouTube playlist

Playlist