SEND

Special Educational Needs & Disabilities

It has been great to see the increased support for equality and diversity in Music Education over recent years. This not only enriches the learning experience for pupils, but also opens doors to a multitude of perspectives, cultures, and opportunities.

There are a variety of options available for SEND Students, spanning a wide range of categories, from traditional instruments like Guitars and Trumpets, to more specialist products such as MiMu Gloves and Skoogs.

We’ve collaborated with numerous Music Hubs and Educational institutions to support their SEND needs, providing an array of products in the process. Based on our conversations with Educators, we understand that selecting appropriate instruments involves a thoughtful, pupil led process that can take multiple elements into account.

Specialist educators we’ve worked with in this field often employ a three-tiered categorisation method, which consists of the following stages:

Providing access to instruments that are safe, easily accessible and offer a multi-sensory experience.

Introducing a more diverse instrument range that produce low stimulus and wider musical tones.

Expanding access to a broader range of instruments, accompanied by the necessary support.

Guidance from specialists in the SEND field suggests that instruments for Stage 1 and 2 should meet certain criteria, detailed below. We welcome further discussions on how we can collaborate with your Hub to supply instruments that are tailored to your specific SEND environments.

A sensory friendly design with bright and contrasting colours, varied textures and visual indicators is essential. They should be lightweight, comfortable to hold with a simple mechanism making them easy to use.

It is important that the instruments make a pleasant sound, a limited tonal range can make it easier to play and the ability to control volume can be beneficial.

Instruments need to be durable, with rounded edges to prevent injury and made from non-toxic materials (REACH certified). Multi-sensory instruments that can be used in various ways (e.g., shaking, striking, plucking) can be more engaging and features like adjustable height or strap length can make the instrument more accessible.