At Earlsmead Primary School, we encourage children to develop the appropriate skills, appreciate a wide variety of musical forms, and begin to make judgements about the quality of music. Through our music curriculum pupils will:

• Gain enjoyment, self-confidence and a sense of achievement through musical activities.
• Be aware of, understand and respond appropriately to the rich variety of sounds in their environment and particularly to those organised arrangements of sounds called music.
• Acquire musical skills and understanding of musical concepts through primarily active listening - then performing and composing.
• Develop their capacity to express ideas and feelings through the medium of sound.

The acquisition of musical skills is key as pupils progress through the school: core curriculum skills in music are taught, sought and caught as part of our adapted curriculum offering.  We aim to challenge our pupils in music lessons through real musical experiences to aid in their holistic development to be well-rounded citizens and life-long musical learners.   

At Earlsmead, we deliver a clear and comprehensive scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum through Charanga. Music is taught weekly from EYFS to Y6 and our curriculum ensures that pupils sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded into classroom activities as well as participation in various concerts and performances, and the learning of instruments.

Charanga is a scheme of work which offers a topic-based approach to support children’s learning in music. A steady progression plan has been built into Charanga, both within each year and from one year to the next, ensuring consistent musical development. By using Charanga as the basis of a scheme of work, we can ensure that they are fulfilling the aims for musical learning stated in the National Curriculum. Charanga includes many examples of music styles and genres from different times and places. These are explored through the language of music via active listening, performing and composing activities, which enable understanding of the context and genre. Charanga provides a classroom-based, participatory and inclusive approach to music learning. Throughout the scheme, children are actively involved in using and developing their singing voices, using body percussion and whole-body actions, and learn to handle and play classroom instruments effectively to create and express their own and others’ music. Through a range of whole class, group and individual activities, children have opportunities to explore sounds, listen actively, compose and perform. This enhances their musical skill-set and provides opportunities for collaboration through composition.

We measure progress in music through pupil observations and pupil self assessment. Both of which enable us to make judgements about children's attainment in music.