Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon.

Aims and Objectives:

· To ensure children develop an enjoyment and love for music

· To ensure an entitlement to music for all pupils in line with the National Curriculum

· To promote continuity, progression and coherence across the school

· To provide opportunities for children to acquire basic skills and understanding in music through participation in musical activities individually and by working in a group

· To develop creativity and imagination through listening, responding and composing music

Importance of Music in our school

The teaching of music develops skills and attitudes which can support learning in other curriculum areas e.g. listening skills, concentration levels, perseverance, self-confidence, creativity, respect and sensitivity towards others. Children are given the opportunities to develop their musical abilities and knowledge through other curriculum areas where appropriate. Through responding to and playing a wide range of music, the children will be helped to understand how sounds are made, changed and organised. The children will develop an understanding of musical processes including learning about and reading relevant musical symbols and notation. The children will understand how music is influenced by history, time and place of origin.

Music Planning, Teaching and Learning

Foundation Stage

Pupils will engage with exploring music in specific areas in the indoor and outdoor continuous provision daily. Teachers will plan a mixture of focus and shared group activities, focussing on the aspects of development in Expressive Arts and Design.

Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2

Children will receive a music lesson weekly. This is provided through Charanga, Children are also taught how to play a different musical instrument each year. These lessons are delivered by specialist music teachers on a weekly basis.

The following is a breakdown of the different musical instruments taught in each year group:

Willow: Percussion

Oak: Glockenspiels/Xylophone

Chestnut: Recorders

Copper Beech: Ukulele

Music lessons across the school are delivered using the Charanga programme. This ensures a balanced curriculum encompassing composition, performing and listening and appraising. All children also have the opportunity to take part in musical performances throughout the school year during Whole school Collective Worships. Coverage and delivery of music lessons will be monitored by the school’s music co-ordinator.

Assessment and Recording

In lessons teachers assess progress towards the learning objectives they have set pupils and shared with them, and use their judgements to adjust future work. Teacher iPads are also used to record performances/group work to allow for assessment judgments to be made beyond the classroom.

Continuity and Progression

Each year group builds on skills and knowledge covered in previous years leading to a spiral curriculum of music. Monitoring of music through learning walks, planning and tracking will ensure children will make progress in music.

Inclusion

To ensure that pupils of all abilities and backgrounds make worthwhile progress in music:

· Teachers provide suitable ways for pupils of different abilities to access all skills by increasing their level of support.

· All children from year 2 to year 6 are expected to engage with music with greater independence and pursue an instrument.

· Children are informed of local music centres providing extra-curricular opportunities to extend their enjoyment, attainment and interest in music.

Resources

We have a range of tuned and untuned instruments in our school which are regularly checked and maintained. Resources are easily accessible and available for use by the children in school. Charanga is the online music teaching resource used presently.

Wider opportunities within Northiam C of E Primary School

Wider opportunities for the children to develop their musical understanding and confidence through participation are vital for the children’s progression. Where appropriate, children will participate in activities outside of the music lesson and this will lead to a performance to an audience e.g. musical performances during the Summer and Christmas Fairs, Christmas Production, Class Assemblies, Summer

Production, Dioceses events and local competitions, etc. Our choir have also been invited to perform at different events.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The music co-ordinator at Northiam C of E, who works with all teachers and agencies to ensure objectives are covered across phases. Monitoring, planning and assessments, pupil and staff questionnaires and learning walks are used to provide evidence of the quality of curriculum. From this, changes, support and CPD opportunities are made available to members of staff who require it.