A Stoke-on-Trent service which supports looked after children has funded vital music opportunities for children in care.
Stoke-on-Trent’s Virtual School helps children and young people in care and previously in care to do as well as they possibly can in their education. They offer information and advice to parents, carers and schools for children previously in care who attend schools in the city.
The lessons are for children in care are for school years 4, 5, 6 to receive vocal or instrumental lessons through the city council run City Music Service.
Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for children’s services said: “This is an amazing offer from our Virtual School. For many pupils this is more than just a music lesson, it’s targeted early intervention.
“Both the Virtual School and the City Music Service have done some fantastic work supporting children in the city through this scheme. This is a chance for these pupils to shine and have fun alongside building their confidence and communication skills. The lessons involve fun alongside lessons and we’ve had some great feedback from schools where pupils have developed their confidence as a result of these lessons.”
The City Music Service was established in 2002 to give children and young people the chance to learn songs and musical skills in a fun environment and to perform together at public concerts. Songbirds progress to the City Youth Choir which promotes singing for 11 to 19-year-olds. The City Music Service works in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent schools to offer a wide variety of musical opportunities for over 8000 young people aged 2–18 each week.
Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for education: “I’d like to thank the Virtual School and the City Music Service for all their hard work supporting children in the city.”
“The City Music Service is always very popular and it’s a great way to celebrate the fantastic musical talent of young people in our city. These music lessons funded by the Virtual School will be incredibly beneficial to our children in care, giving them opportunities they might otherwise not have.”
For more information on the Virtual School, residents can visit www.stoke.gov.uk/virtualschool. Anyone who wants to find out more about the City Music Service can go to https://stokecms.org.uk/
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