Primary and SEND Newsletter

FAO Headteacher and Music Lead – West Sussex Music Newsletter April 2025

Dear Colleagues,

Summer 2025

West Sussex Primary & SEND Music Education Conference 2025
#EveryChildAMusician

Booking is now open for this FREE opportunity to spend a day upskilling, learning to play new instruments,
developing skills in music teaching for SEND pupils, composing, leading and more. Workshops are all
designed for specialist and non–specialists alike.

Set in the stunning grounds of Christs Hospital School, our high acclaimed conferences are definitely one
not to miss. To find out more, see our workshop leaders for the day and book a place click here: West
Sussex Primary and SEND Music Education Conference 2025 – West Sussex Music

Big Sing and ensemble music leadership CPD sessions:
We are looking forward to seeing many of you at one of the Big Sings this term – our massed singing events
for Key Stage 2 at various locations across the county! We launched the events with a CPD session this
week. If you were unable to make it, please get in touch so that we can share the content with you. Another
CPD opportunity designed to support specialist and non-specialist music teachers to deliver singing in the
classroom is Use of gesture in ensemble music leadership on Wednesday 7 May, 3:30 – 4:30pm at
Billingshurst Primary Academy.
To take part, please sign up here.

Curriculum support and CPD
In addition to our conference, we are delighted to be offering free in-person CPD hosted by schools across
the county.
To support schools in their delivery of the National Curriculum for Music and following feedback on staff
confidence, topics include: Composing Made Easy, Using Notation, Understanding and using the
Interrelated Dimensions of Music. Click here to find a CPD session near you or contact Jane Swindells
jane.swindells@westsussexmusic.co.uk

Gamelan
Are you interested in hosting one of our Gamelan sets?
Gamelan is the traditional ensemble music of Indonesia and is made up predominantly of percussive
instruments like metallophones, gongs, drums and bamboo flutes. It’s used in ceremonies, rituals
and performing arts across Indonesia. You can see more about these beautiful instruments here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsPdTNGnr44
We have a Balinese Gamelan and Javanese Gamelan available for free long-term hire – please get
in touch with music@westsussexmusic.co.uk if you’d like to host one!

Looking ahead to 2025-26

Classroom Instrumental Lessons SLA 2025-26
You can find out more about our offer for 2025-26 here and if you would like to talk through any of the
options please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Time4Music SLA 2025-26

The Time4Music (T4M) service level agreement is a flexible approach to support and enrich your school’s
music. See here for the range of ways we can work with you to support your curriculum, including bespoke
CPD opportunities.

The schools’ pages on our website provide information about all the options of support from West Sussex
Music. If you can’t see what you need, please do get in touch with a member of the schools’ team:

• Alison Sutton, SEND & Inclusion Lead alison.sutton@westsussexmusic.co.uk
• Jane Swindells, Primary Curriculum Manager jane.swindells@westsussexmusic.co.uk
• Rachel Maby, Schools Singing Leader, rachel.maby@westsussexmusic.co.uk
• Shelley Young, Schools Administrator music@westsussexmusic.co.uk

Music Mark membership – FREE
Becoming a member of Music Mark provides a host of additional opportunities for CPD, resources,
and networking. If you’re interested in becoming a member or wish to renew your free membership
please click here

Alison Sutton
Assistant Head: Head of Learning
West Sussex Music