P Scales / P Levels

P Scales are a format for assessing progress for students who are operating below National Curriculum Level 1. This useful document (which can be downloaded as a pdf file here) describes how to assess what level a student is at for a wide range of subjects. Level descriptors for music are on pages 27-29.

ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network) offer a wide choice of flexible, activity-based curriculum programmes that can be used in a variety of educational contexts with learners working at a range of levels.

AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) offer an extremely flexible accreditation framework called the 'AQA Unit Award Scheme'. The scheme includes scores of ready-made music awards, as well a system that enables music educators to create their own awards, which can then be accredited by AQA.

The aim of Sounds of Intent is to investigate and promote the musical development of children and young people with complex needs (e.g. learning difficulties ranging from PMLD to SLD to autism).

This song book was created for children in special educational needs settings as part of Sing Up's Beyond the Mainstream programme. It's a great resource for singing within the Foundation stage / KS1 / KS2 curriculum. The 8 songs and 6 characters were dreamed up by Anna Batson, Nick Grew and Ben Ballard, as well as children from special schools in the Plymouth area. One of the characters, Bernard the Gurnard, appears throughout the book in a hot air balloon and is billed as the "ultimate fish out of water on a voyage of discovery with some weird and wonderful friends".

Drake Music have created accessible singing resources that can be downloaded from the Sing Up Song Bank website. These resources are designed to fully involve SEN/Disabled children in singing activities as part of the Foundation stage / KS1 / KS2 curriculum, including children with physical impairments, communication difficulties and other special needs.