Services for Schools Brochure

Schools are navigating an increasingly complex educational landscape. Growing needs around executive functioning, rising demand for early intervention, and continued pressures with behaviour, attendance and engagement mean that classrooms require strong, evidence‑informed approaches that build secure foundations for learning. At the same time, stretched budgets make it essential to invest in provision that is both high‑impact and cost‑effective.

Music is one of the most powerful tools available to schools to meet these challenges. High‑quality musical participation strengthens the cognitive processes pupils rely on for reading, writing, maths and social interaction. Music directly supports expectations for strong foundations and aligns with priorities around attention, working memory, self‑regulation and language development.

Hertfordshire Music Service (HMS) offers a comprehensive, inclusive and affordable programme that supports curriculum excellence, enriches school culture and enhances pupils’ wider development. Through universal, targeted and specialist provision, HMS helps schools deliver high‑quality music education that builds musical skills, improves learning readiness and behaviour, and boosts confidence, engagement and wellbeing.

Music uniquely integrates auditory, visual, motor and emotional systems in the brain, creating a powerful rehearsal space for the executive‑function and foundational learning skills that underpin academic success:

• Attention and focus – sustained listening, beat tracking, pattern recognition
• Working memory – recalling rhythms, sequences, lyrics and instructions
• Inhibitory control – responding to cues, waiting, starting and stopping together
• Cognitive flexibility – switching roles, adapting to tempo, improvising
• Language and communication – prosody, articulation, turn‑taking, vocabulary
• Fine‑motor coordination – supporting handwriting fluency and controlled movement

These skills align closely with Ofsted’s Strong Foundations guidance, which highlights the importance of self‑regulation, language development, motor control and secure early cognition for later attainment.

Across every phase, HMS programmes offer practical, joyful and engaging ways for pupils to strengthen the skills they need to thrive in the classroom.

“These benefits are not abstract — they translate directly into the foundational skills identified by Ofsted and schools as critical for success.”

With budgets under increasing pressure, HMS delivers strong impact with long‑term value.

Schools choose HMS because our provision:

• Reduces the need for later catch‑up and high‑cost interventions
• Strengthens Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP) through modelling and staff development
• Improves behaviour, regulation and engagement, reducing lost learning time
• Builds teacher confidence and sustainable in‑school capacity
• Enhances attendance, motivation and belonging through rich cultural experiences
• Supports pupils with emerging needs, including those vulnerable to SEMH or attendance‑related difficulties

Investing in high‑quality, preventative music education helps schools mitigate long‑term costs related to disengagement, reduced attendance and external agency involvement.

HMS supports schools in meeting national priorities for curriculum quality, inclusion and enrichment. Our offer aligns with:

• Ofsted Education Inspection Framework (EIF) – intent, implementation and impact
• Ofsted Strong Foundations – early language, executive functioning, motor development, reading readiness
• National Plan for Music Education (NPME) – entitlement, progression, access and inclusion
• SEND and OAP frameworks – universal and targeted support
• Behaviour and attendance priorities – improving regulation, belonging and motivation

HMS helps schools strengthen curriculum delivery, support early learning and build a music‑rich culture through high‑quality, evidence‑informed practice.

Hertfordshire Music Service works in partnership with schools to design provision that reflects your priorities, pupils and budget. Our offer includes:

• Universal whole‑class programmes
• Targeted EF, regulation and nurture interventions
• 1:1 and small‑group specialist mentoring
• Therapeutic and SEND‑focused music‑making
• Instrumental and vocal tuition, and ensemble development
• Curriculum support, CPD, leadership development and SMDP guidance

Together, we help schools deliver ambitious, inclusive and sustainable music education that strengthens learning, wellbeing, confidence and belonging.