During the first half of the Autumn Term 2002 we ran a Music Tour for children with severe learning difficulties and profound & multiple difficulties. Five special schools were visited for a 90-minute session each week for 5 weeks (in Bridgwater, Weston-super-Mare, Bath, Bristol and Taunton). A total of 450 child-sessions.

Each week the children would fly the "Space Rocket" to the Music Planet to meet Professor Tune, who introduced them to different instruments and his "Magic Music Machine". The curricular aims were to familiarise the children with different instruments and the different noises they could make. They really enjoyed this part of each session and it had real social benefits, with turn-taking and sharing playing important roles.

Symbol recognition was strongly stressed, as was memory retention, with the learning of songs and remembering of activities from previous weeks. Each school received a CD of all the songs they sang, which many teachers are still using for recollection and recall.

We also devised special 1-day workshops for children wtih SLD/PMLD, using the "cream" of the 5-week Tour. Nine special schools, many from further afield than usual, received 1-day Workshops, with 1,080 child-sessions taking place. We are delighted to have these new workshops "up our sleeve", as they give us the chance to work with more schools than can be accomodated in our regular touring - they can quickly be pulled "out of the hat" if we have any gaps in our schedule.

"This Tour offered the pupils at my school the opportunity to touch, hear and attempt to play a variety of musical instruments not normally accessible to them. The light and sound sensory journey framed the sessions and acted as a point of reference for those with more profound difficulties or sensory loss."
Class Teacher, Baytree Special School, Weston-super-Mare

VIDEO/ROLE-PLAY TOUR FOR MLD/EBD SCHOOLS

In the first half of the Spring Term 2003 we ran a 6-week Tour for children with moderate learning difficulties and emotional & behavioural difficulties.

Six special schools were visited for a 90-minute session per week for 6 weeks (in Street, Radstock, Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Bristol and Bridgwater), a total of 540 child-sessions.

This Tour focused on "Behaviour". The students were asked to think of examples of "bad behaviour" and then act out a complete story showing the build-up to an event, the event itself and the repercussions. We filmed their stories and then edited each school's video, with the action being interspersed with questions highlighted on the screen, inviting debate around the story. These sessions proved successful for many reasons. At its most basic, each school has received a video showing students how their school deals with certain situations. At a deeper level, the students got the chance to see how they would react under pressure. Even though students were aware of the camera and of the fact that they were acting, real emotions came through during the workshops and on film, and provided them with a chance to see how they could modify behaviour and reach different, more successful outcomes. Alongside each improvised story, each group of students filmed a piece using masks that provoked discussions around emotions and also filmed a more light-hearted clowning piece.

We also created new 1-day Workshops for children with MLD/EBD on the theme of "Looking at Ourselves and Others". In the mornings we used a combination of games, discussions, masks and trustwork to explore how we react in different situations, and in the afternoons each group was divided into 2 teams to undertake the Teamwork Challenge. Six special schools participated in these 1-day workshops with 324 child-sessions taking place.

As with the 1-day SLD/PMLD Workshops above, we are delighted to have these new 1-day MLD/EBD Workshops up our sleeve, which can be brought out at any time and which increase the number of special schools we can work with. We have also created some 1-day Workshops specifically for children with emotional & behavioural difficulties after being approached by two residential schools for teenage boys with EBD. 120 child-sessions were undertaken & we intend to continue developing this work as there is much need for it.
"Please book us on the January/February 2004 MLD/EBD Tour again, as we really value the contribution it makes to our Year 9 PSHE curriculum."
Deputy Head Teacher, Culverhill Special School, Yate, Bristol.

THE PUPPETRY & INTEGRATION WORKSHOP WEEKS TOUR

In the first half of the Summer Term 03 we ran Workshop Weeks in Bath, Weston-super-Mare and Bridgwater. In June 03 we were also commissioned to undertake a Puppetry & Integration Workshop Week for 3 schools and special schools in Liverpool. In each town approximately 60 children of mixed abilities each received a full week of workshops. We re-used our well tried and tested format whereby we challenge the children to create a large-scale puppet show to perform on the Friday afternoon. The weeks were filled with games, puppet, prop and scenery making, songs and rehearsals, leading to the final afternoon of performance. This busy format and single focus of working towards a shared end-goal allows very easy and unembarrassed integration of children of mixed abilities to take place. This happy integration shows clearly during the workshop sessions and spills over into break and lunchtimes. The final performances, as always, were splendid and did much to raise the children's confidence and self-esteem. 3,600 x 90-minute child-sessions. "We at Summerfield are thrilled to be involved in the Children's World Integration Tour each year. To see a group of children out of their normal environment develop new skills they never thought they had, nurture new friendships and achieve so much in so little time is a credit to the skills of the Children's World team. They inspire everyone involved in their workshops with their expertise, endless enthusiasm and humour. Their clever way of developing a project from scratch creates a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere which encourages each and every child to use their imagination to create wonderful things. The hard work during the week is greatly rewarded by the production of a fantastic show including everyone - guaranteed to bring tears to the eyes. All in all, a week where self-esteem, confidence and friendships develop beyond belief!"
Class Teacher, Summerfield Special School, Bath

See			Hear
Our			Work

Paula "signing" the words of the Children's World "Let's Work Together" Song "Please take the time to look at the enclosed photographs of Paula, then aged 7, just before lunch on the first day of the Puppetry Integration Week. She was so involved and motivated by the whole experience, it was fantastic. Her language improved, her social skills developed and she worked so hard and gained so much from the Week, it is hard to put into words."
Class Teacher, Baytree Special School, Weston-super-Mare.

SENSORY DOME & SOFT PLAY INFLATABLE VISITS

During the run-up to Christmas we took the Sensory Dome and our lovely new Soft Play Inflatable to 7 special schools. A lot of fun was had by all! 420 child-sessions "It cheered everybody up!", "Amazing - I liked bouncing!", "It makes me feel bouncy and happy!", "It's something to look forward to!". "Just a few comments from our pupils about the day you spent with us. At Culverhill we use a behaviour management system - we found your visit to be a very good reward for our children, that promoted excellent behaviour during the Chrtistmas lead-up which can be a very excitable & therefore difficult time for our pupils."
Deputy Head, Culverhill Special School.

THE INTERACTIVE INCLUSIVE CD SAMPLER PROJECT

We have nearly finished creating the Interactive Inclusive CD. There will be a dozen tracks of songs, guided journeys, massage stories and interactive activities. Feedback from the draft CD sent to schools and special schools has been excellent and we hope to present the CD and Teachers Notes free of charge to 500 special schools and mainstream schools with a high percentage of pupils with additional educational needs in early 2004. "I would like to recommend this CD to your school and staff. It has been developed by Children's World in conjunction with local schools. The material is of a high quality and can be adapted to many situations. In our school it has been enjoyed by a wide range of children, and staff too!"
Head of Brookside Primary School, Street.