The Song Room: Social and emotional learning through the Arts

Program description

The Song Room (TSR) uses whole-school art projects to teach social and emotional skills to support student wellbeing and learning.

TSR is led by experienced teaching artists (qualified teachers and/or arts, music and/or play therapists) over a 10-week period. The program aims to positively impact student social, emotional and cognitive development and to build the capacity of schools to be positive and supportive settings.

Sessions have a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach. Art activities can include:

• music and dance
• drama, visual arts and performing arts
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.

Creative and customised activities also support diverse and vulnerable students. Schools that complete the program become part of a national community and continue to receive professional learning and resources.

Intended outcomes

• Greater self-awareness, self-management and responsible decision making
• Greater social awareness and relationship skills
• Increased engagement, connection and feelings of school pride and belonging
• Improved communication skills
• Higher confidence and motivation to learn
• Greater creativity and expressive capacities
• Improve knowledge and skills in the arts aligned to the Victorian Curriculum

Program details

Implementation considerations

• Target population: Primary school students from Foundation to Year 6.
• Program adaptability: The program will be tailored to the unique needs, strengths, and local context of each school and participant cohort. This will be identified in consultation with the school (pre-program). All TSR programs are designed, tailored, and delivered with an inclusive, strengths-based, differentiated, culturally responsive, and place-based approach. The program is adaptable for diverse cohorts including:
  • neurodivergent students
  • out-of-home care students
  • students with a disability.
• Staffing: Backfilling is not required for participating staff. The Menu provider and its personnel must not be alone with any school student or group of school students in the classroom or in any other place at the school’s premises without another educator, teacher or teacher’s aide present at all times.
• Training requirements: The Song Room encourages the use of existing school equipment where available and appropriate. Schools will be provided with all music and art-making resources, and access to ongoing digital resources. This includes a subscription to The Song Room's digital resource, ARTS:LIVE for one year, lesson plans, videos, and activities.
• Factors to consider: There is a consultation session pre-program for project planning and consultation with the school. There is no minimum number of participants required. The time commitment is 10 weekly full-day sessions.
• Australian context: This program has been developed and applied in Australia.

Cost

Minimum cost

$5000+

Detailed cost

The full Song Room program cost is $16,229 (including GST), plus travel costs based on ATO rates, where travel over 100 km is required by one x facilitator from home to the school.

The program cost includes:

• planning and induction with school
• teacher CRT cover
• program delivery in class by one x teaching artist
• program coordination and management
• materials and resources
• ongoing subscription to digital platform ARTS:LIVE for all teachers at the conclusion of the program
• community engagement event
• program operational and administrative support.