SEND Schools Newsletter

Fao: Headteacher and Music Lead 

Dear Colleagues,

I hope that 2026 has started well for you and your school community.

You will hopefully already have seen in our January Newsletter there are many exciting musical opportunities available to young people and schools in West Sussex this term. 

As always, we appreciate your support in sharing details of opportunities with your pupils and families.

If you would like further information or are looking for bespoke, in-school support or would like a visit to discuss developing music in your school please contact our schools’ team – we’d love to hear from you.

Updates…

Primary Singing

It’s not too late to book a place at one of our massed singing events, Little Big Sings, for KS1. 

Lead by Emily Barden during February, these events focus on a theme of The Natural World. Click here to see more and to reserve your place.

Big Sing events for KS2 take place in June. Further information coming very soon.

Sings Live!

Our two Sings Live! whole-day massed singing workshops are on:

• Wednesday 11 March 2026, 10.30am-4.30pm: Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, RH13 0LJ

and

• Wednesday 18 March 2026, 11am-4.30pm: St Paul’s Church, Chichester, PO19 6FT

Each with a performance to parents / carers at 4pm.

Further details and sign up are available here: https://www.westsussexmusic.co.uk/sings-live 

Curriculum support and CPD

It’s not too late to sign up to our new courses to build confidence in new music leads and a day of training for all ECTs or those wishing to develop their skills in teaching music. You can also book us for a staff meeting or INSET day for training created around your school’s needs.  Our courses are designed to be transferable to commercial schemes and bespoke school curriculums. To see the full range of CPD offers click here or email our schools’ team

Classroom instrumental lessons (CIL) – still booking for Summer 2026

We are still taking bookings for 1Term2Learn Classroom Instrumental Lessons enabling pupils in Year 4 to learn an instrument. These subsidised whole-class programmes include teacher CPD as well as lessons and instruments for the children. Find out more here

Enrichment activities

Explore opportunities to enrich your curriculum and support your extra-curricular music offer with our Time4Music service level agreement. We can provide specialists to run ensemble activities or lead workshops, and we also hire sets of instruments. Find out more here

Instrument hire

If you are looking to hire a class set of instruments to enrich a project, deliver an in-house workshop or support your music curriculum please get in touch on music@westsussexmusic.co.uk

Opportunities for pupils…

Live music performances

We have the following opportunities provided by hub partners to put in your diary to enable your students to experience a live orchestral concert especially programmed for children & young people:

Tuesday 13 January 2026 – Southern Pro-Musica @ Chichester Festival Theatre

• 10.45am book here £5 per ticket

• 1.30pm book here £5 per ticket     

Saturday 21 February 2026 – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra@ The Hawth, Crawley

For more information including booking see here

Orchestras Inc.

Following a hugely successful run of sessions last term, West Sussex Music’s inclusive SEND orchestra is back, with more free sessions this half-term. 

Orchestras Inc. is an inclusive, creative music group for children and young people under 25 with special educational needs or disabilities, and their parents or carers.  

For more information, including dates, venues and a welcome video, and how to book, see here.

Tomorrow’s Orchestra Programme

Something for pupils interested in learning an orchestral instrument, Tomorrow’s Orchestra Programme (TOP26) combines free instrumental lessons and free instrument loan with weekly orchestral sessions. It has been created as a fast-track route from absolute beginner to confident musician within a few short months. TOP26 will also introduce children to the thrill of playing in an orchestra.

TOP26 lasts for three terms, starting in January, with sessions taking place in Bognor Regis, Chichester, Crawley, Horsham, Midhurst and Worthing. TOP26 runs for three terms from January to December. The first term is free* and terms 2 and 3 just £78 per term. More information and details of how to apply can be found here 

*There is a one-off non-refundable booking fee of £10.

Opportunities for you…

Secondary Subject Network meeting – Monday 2 February 15:45 – 16:30 (online)

Many thanks to Susannah Mitchell of Davison High School for convening a regular curriculum meeting for secondary colleagues. Within this group, participants meet every few months to discuss subject specific issues, moderation, curriculum planning, resource sharing.

If you’d like to join the 2 February meeting, please contact s.mitchell@davison.w-sussex.sch.uk for a meeting link.

Singing CPD with the Royal Ballet and Opera (free) – Thu 5 March 09:00 – 15:00

Location: Felpham Community College, Felpham Way, Bognor Regis, P022 8EL

To find out more and to reserve your space follow this link Royal Ballet & Opera Sing CPD – Bognor Regis

Sussex Secondary Music Conference – Thursday 18 June SAVE THE DATE

Please save the date of Thursday 18 June for the annual Sussex Secondary Music Conference hosted by the University of Sussex at Falmer. 

Alison Sutton

Assistant Head: Head of Learning

West Sussex Music