Music – curriculum information

At New Pastures Primary School, we want every child to enjoy music and develop the confidence to sing, play, create and perform. Through listening and practical music-making, pupils explore different musical styles, express their ideas and learn to work together.

Our music curriculum reflects our school values of Community, Pride and Aspirations. Children experience the enjoyment of making music together, take pride in their progress and discover opportunities to develop their musical interests.

Intent

We aim to develop confident, creative musicians who enjoy participating in music and appreciate the music of others.

Our curriculum enables pupils to:

• Use their voices expressively and sing individually and with others.
• Develop their skills in playing musical instruments.
• Listen carefully and respond to music from different traditions, cultures and periods.
• Explore how music is created through rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, texture and structure.
• Improvise and compose music, drawing on their developing knowledge and skills.
• Rehearse, perform and reflect on their own music and the work of others.

We want all pupils to experience success in music and recognise that their contribution matters.

Implementation

Music in Early Years

In Nursery and Reception, music is woven into the wider curriculum rather than taught as a separate subject. Songs, rhymes, movement, listening and musical exploration support children’s communication, physical development, creativity and confidence.

Children have opportunities to explore sounds, join in with familiar songs, respond to rhythm and make music with others. These experiences provide foundations for their musical learning in Key Stage 1.

Music in Key Stages 1 and 2

We use Kapow Primary to support the planning and teaching of music. Lessons bring together singing, listening, performing, improvising and composing, alongside the development of musical vocabulary and understanding.

Music is taught in themed blocks, with six hours of curriculum music each term. This allows pupils to explore a musical theme in depth and work towards a shared outcome.

Learning is sequenced so that pupils revisit and build on previous knowledge and skills. Planning takes account of our mixed-age classes and pupils’ prior learning, helping children develop greater confidence, independence and musical understanding over time.

Instrumental teaching

Our Year 4 pupils learn to play the ukulele, taught by specialists from Doncaster Music Service. This provides an additional six hours of music each term, giving Year 4 pupils 12 hours of music per term in total.

Pupils develop their instrumental skills through shared practice and rehearsal, culminating in an end-of-year performance.

Inclusion and adaptations

We maintain high expectations for every pupil and adapt teaching so that all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, can participate meaningfully.

Teachers use approaches such as:

• Breaking activities into smaller steps.
• Modelling and repeating musical phrases.
• Using visual cues and clear gestures to support understanding and turn-taking.
• Providing familiar patterns, manageable repeated rhythms or simpler musical parts.
• Allowing supported rehearsal before increasing complexity and independence.
• Using adult support and clear routines where needed.

Pupils who are ready for further challenge may lead groups, create contrasting musical sections, develop independent responses or explain and justify their musical choices.

Adaptations respond to individual needs while retaining the intended musical learning.

Singing and wider opportunities

We offer separate Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 choirs during one term of the school year. Our Reception to Year 2 club offer also includes Sing & Sign.

Singing features in several assemblies throughout the year. Children have opportunities to participate in Christmas performances, leavers’ productions and community performances, developing their confidence and experience of performing for an audience.

Quiet spaces and offices can be used for practice and rehearsal, while our school halls provide spaces for performances.

Impact

We want pupils to leave New Pastures with an enjoyment of music, confidence in their own musical abilities and an interest in continuing to participate.

As pupils progress, we look for their developing ability to:

• Sing and play with increasing control and confidence.
• Listen attentively and describe music using appropriate vocabulary.
• Create, rehearse and improve their own musical ideas.
• Work collaboratively and contribute to group performances.
• Reflect on their progress and identify ways to improve.
• Appreciate a range of musical styles and traditions.

Teachers assess learning through listening to pupils, observing their music-making, discussing their choices and reviewing compositions and performances. This helps staff identify next steps and adapt teaching appropriately.

The Music Lead reviews curriculum delivery, staff feedback and pupils’ experiences to support continued improvement.

Developing our music provision

Our priorities are to strengthen staff confidence in teaching music through Kapow and widen pupils’ access to instrumental learning.

We are building on our partnership with Doncaster Music Service to explore further opportunities, including visits from musicians who can introduce instruments, share live music and inspire children to continue learning.