New report reveals positive impacts of In Harmony Liverpool on Early Years Education
8th December 2016
The report, by evaluation consultant Susanne Burns with input from clinical psychologist Michael Galbraith outlines the positive impacts of the transformational music programme on children, their schools, their families and the wider community in Everton.
Liverpool Philharmonic established In Harmony Liverpool in 2009 with 84 children in Faith Primary School in Everton. With funding from Arts Council England, Department for Education and Paul Hamlyn Foundation amongst others. The programme delivers a programme of orchestral music making for nearly 750 children aged 0-18, performing repertoire from across music genres including classical, pop, traditional and new music, to improve the health, education and aspirations of children and young people.
Early years provision has featured in the In Harmony Liverpool programme from the beginning, and in 2015, a major expansion, supported by Youth Music saw Liverpool Philharmonic welcome Everton Nursey School and Family Centre into the programme, along with The Beacon CE Primary School.
The report cites success factors including:
- Trust, collaboration, communication and sharing of expertise between early years teachers and professional musicians
- Strong leadership at school level
- Child-centred curriculum
- Parent and family engagement
Peter Garden, Liverpool Philharmonic’s Executive Director of Performance and Learning said: ‘We know that high quality music making can be hugely beneficial to very young children, and the support of Youth Music and our partners has enabled us to reach even more young children and families in Everton, working towards our ambition of neighbourhood–wide In Harmony Liverpool provision.
‘What is clear is that the skills, collaboration and creativity of our musicians and early years teachers across our three partner schools is maximising the effect of everyone’s combined expertise, and firmly placing children at the heart of In Harmony and early years education. Now in its eighth year, we remain incredibly grateful to the children, families, school staff, partners and Everton community for their support of In Harmony Liverpool.’
