The programme uses music, singing and drama activities, supported by the use of Makaton signing to help English language development. The programme is targetting:

• New Arrivals (within the last 18 months)
• Pupils with EAL
• Ethnic Minority Achievement
• Pupils in Key-Stage 2

Seeds and Songs began in 2010 as a Sing Up Beyond the Mainstream programme. Funding from Sing Up has now finished, but the project continues in Slough as we have a great need to support the many families who have recently arrived in the UK, and for those whom English is an additional language.

The programme is for KS2 mainstream pupils from ethnic minorities and/or with English as an additional language, which is typically those who are recently arrived in the UK (in the last 18 months). It is not intended as language or speech therapy.

The programme runs as an after school club, currently at St Mary's Primary School on a Tuesday from 3.45 to 4.45.

The focus of this programme is language development through musical theatre. We use a lot of role play and singing to aid learning of the English language, and to boost confidence and integration. Pupils learn well-known songs, create and compose their own music and song, and enhance this with drama and dance.

We use Makaton sign language not as an alternative to speech as it is typically seen in special needs settings, but as a facilitator to encouraging pupils with little English language to communicate more effectively, and aid the learning of English. We know that singing is a great way to learn a language and actions help us to remember words - signing and singing bring these two essential elements of language development together.

We do not charge for attendance at these sessions, though pupils will need to make their own transport arrangements, which includes ensuring they are collected very promptly at the end of the session. Pupils are expected to attend weekly for at least one term, and are welcome to stay with the programme term after term until they give notice they wish to stop membership, which is normally at the end of a term.

Pupils will need to be reffered to the programme by their school; pupils or parents/carers cannot sign up for this programme. If you are a parent/carer and think this programme would be beneficial to your child, please ask your school to refer you.

If you require further information about the programme, please contact us.