Music Therapy making a difference at Springhallow School during the pandemic
In October 2021 I will be leaving Springhallow, eleven years after I started here. I will be very sad to say goodbye to this wonderful school and will be working over the next few weeks to make the transition as smooth as possible for the next therapist to take over.
Working as an EMT Music Therapist in the first year of the pandemic
Working alongside Covid, had made us, the therapists, more creative and adaptable to all the changes and regulations as well as the change in our service user’s needs. The lack of consistency and predictability brought up some new challenges that we haven’t experienced before as therapists – emotional support and poor mental wellbeing and support.
Setting up a Music Therapy service in a mainstream school
Coston School is a mainstream Primary School which has an Additional Resource Provision (ARP) unit for children with moderate learning difficulties, severe developmental delay, emotional difficulties and Autistic spectrum disorder. Previously there was no music therapy in Coston Primary School and I am grateful for the opportunity of setting up the service. The initial aim of the service was to provide care for the ARP unit’s students and to gradually expand into the mainstream area supporting students with their emotional and mental wellbeing.
Supporting mental and emotional wellbeing at Belvue School
Belvue is a Secondary School for students with a range of Learning Disabilities, Emotional Behavioural Difficulties and Autism. For many years, music therapy has been an integral part of the school’s landscape and is part of the school’s multi-disciplinary team. The music therapy provision offered by Ealing Music Therapy includes individual, group and spontaneous sessions that include staff members that support the setting when needed.