SEN School in Yorkshire

At a specialist SEND school in Yorkshire, music therapy is helping pupils with complex needs to connect, communicate and feel more regulated.

Delivered weekly by a Chiltern Music Therapist, the service supports pupils with a wide range of needs, including PMLD, autism, sensory impairments and complex medical conditions. Sessions are tailored to each pupil, using live music and sensory experiences to create opportunities for engagement, interaction and non-verbal communication.

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For staff, the impact is clear. One HLTA reflected:

The pupils really enjoy the group and the sensory interaction it provides.

And another staff member commented:

[Pupil] is really playful in Music Therapy, it’s clear he enjoys it a lot and he vocalises more in the sessions, taking the lead.

Progress is tracked using the Music Therapy Outcomes StarTM, with pupils showing improvements across key areas including communication, attention, creativity and emotional wellbeing.

For one pupil, music therapy has provided a consistent and reassuring structure, supporting relaxation and recovery even after seizures. Over time, she has become more expressive and developed her own ways of communicating, leading to music therapy being recommended as part of her EHCP.

Music therapy provides a consistent and supportive space where even small responses can represent meaningful progress - helping pupils feel more settled, expressive and connected.

The report below provides more information about the aims of the therapy and its outcomes.

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