Music tech investment for children with SEND

Some instruments such as the Rav Drum make therapeutic sounds and help calm anxiety

Adaptive musical instruments for children with special educational needs are to be made available thanks to a £90,000 investment.

Oxfordshire County Council said it would make them available over the academic year in schools and community settings.

They will include "the very latest music technology" and instruments from around the world.

Lisa Lyons, the council's director of children services, said the instruments would "work wonders in calming children who experience excessive anxiety".

Among the instruments is a "joystick" which can be used to perform and compose music.

The council said it was "particularly good for pupils in wheelchairs or those with limited motion".

Other instruments light up when played and balls trigger music as they bounce.

John Howson, the council's cabinet member for children, education and young people’s services, said that would help "unlock the potential" of children to express themselves through music.

He added that the local authority was "excited to be able to expand our programme", responding to requests from the young people, families and education professionals.

Ms Lyons said they would help children with limited verbal communication skills "use music to help them make friends and express their emotions".

She gave examples with Rav Drums and Indian shruti boxes because of their therapeutic sounds.

The full range of instruments will be arriving over the next couple of months.

The funding was made possible through investment from Arts Council England.