Southampton Virtual School

Music – in one word – means connection. Our children are empowered to believe they can succeed in whatever they do, because they have someone supporting and encouraging them.

Southampton Virtual School

Southampton Virtual School launched in 2013. Pupils at the school are children and young people of school age, who are in the care of Southampton City Council. The school seeks to raise the aspirations of these young people. Pupils are encouraged to reach their full potential, progressing into further and higher education and moving into fulfilling employment.

Our partnership with Southampton Virtual School began in 2017, and music gives the pupils a platform for both connection and engagement. In 2021, we began a pioneering new online service. This made sessions accessible to children residing outside the borough as well as those isolated by the covid pandemic. The Advancing Healthcare Awards 2022 shortlisted the online service for the BAMT Award for innovative practice.

Several of the young people who have attended our sessions have subsequently gone on to access instrumental tuition paid for out of their pupil premium funding. This resulted directly from the growing confidence they gained through their music therapy sessions, which then gave them the impetus to try out different instruments.

While pupils transition through the stages of their education, music therapy provides a source of continuity in their lives. This sense of constancy is especially important, as it may not be present in their home environments.

We produced this story in partnership with Southampton Virtual School, where we delivered music therapy services from 2021 to 2023.