Music Therapy

Music therapy is a psychotherapy that uses music as a form of expression to bring about change and development in an individual’s social and emotional well-being. Creating and sharing music with another person who is able to listen, support and bring understanding can help process and work though experiences of abuse, trauma, neglect or challenging relationships.

Music Therapy can also be used to support development within communication, movement and cognitive skills. In a Music Therapy session, the emphasis is on encouraging creative expression rather than teaching musical skills. A range of instruments are provided, and individuals are invited to explore these instruments and their own voice to create their own sounds and music. Music is used to build a trusting and therapeutic relationship, to enable the young person to access meaningful therapy.

Speech & Language Therapy

Future Education commissions speech and language therapy from ISLTS (Independent Speech and Language Therapy Services Ltd) to provide assessment, therapy sessions, advice to professionals working with students and their parents, throughout the school during the academic year.

Each student’s speech, language and communication skills are an essential part of their learning, development, and future potential.

 

• Listening and attention skills– these are important for general learning, understanding, speaking, and listening as well as the development of effective communication and interaction skills

 

• Expressive language skills– using speech, expressive skills, and other means of communication to express thoughts, ideas, and opinions. To participate in daily learning, to make friends and interact with other people

 

• Receptive language skills– understanding words and language as part of everyday learning and interaction with others; following instructions, participating in conversation

 

• Non-verbal skills– using facial expression and body language effectively as part of communication. Using eye contact. Reading other people’s non-verbal skills accurately

 

• Social communication skills: starting and ending conversations; peer friendships; showing emotion and feelings; group interaction skills such as problem solving and team working

 

• Confidence building– improving self-esteem and confidence through better speech, language, and communication skill

LEGO Therapy

At Future Education we run LEGO Therapy groups. Playing with LEGO in a therapeutic setting promotes social interaction, turn-taking skills, sharing and collaborative problem-solving. It can be used to support our students’ social skills, language and motor skills. By using a commonly adored tool like LEGO it capitalises on its existing motivation and supports self-esteem by allowing the participants to demonstrate their skills in a social situation. It also sets up a positive opportunity for guided social problem-solving to help develop social skills that can then be used in other situations.

Emotional Literacy Sessions

These are group sessions written and delivered by our therapy team and staff that address student’s emotional wellbeing. Each form group has one POW session a week which focuses on student self-esteem, resilience and their mental health.

Wellbeing Walks

Groups of students are taken out on weekly walks around Norfolk. We often take the dog and a football and there is always a hot chocolate at the end of it.

We also run these sessions on an individual basis for some students. We can see the benefit this brings to us all as we are able to run around in the fresh air and play.