Devonshire June July 16

continued...
Honeylands
Outcomes
The value that parents place on
music therapy, especially noting the
development of early communication
and interaction skills. Changes
specified include an increase in
eye contact, increase in the length
of concentration span, increased
ability to listen, developing taking
their turn and an increase in vocal
responses. This results in the child
being better able to communicate
with their parent and others.
For many children with complex
medical needs and palliative
conditions, music therapy was the
only therapy provided which they
were able to respond too in a positive
way. This non-verbal means of selfexpression
enhanced the quality of
their lives.
The multiple ways in which music
therapy helped parents with low
confidence and poor parenting skills
to interact with their children with
greater confidence. This outcome
includes increased parent/child
interaction within the session
and ‘carries over’ to the home
environment, leading to a better
quality of family life.
Referrals come from the
multidisciplinary clinical team at the
Centre. There is currently a waiting
list of children for individual therapy,
demand for family music therapy
groups and a demand for clinical time
for music therapy assessment as part
of the diagnostic assessment process
for children with autism. The music
therapy service is a specialist service
which liaises with local special and
mainstream schools, mainstream
playgroups and community children’s
services. Evidence from parents
Approximately 100-120 children are seen each week
and professionals within schools
which children eventually attend
have shown the benefits of early
intervention through music therapy.
How music therapy has
grown at the Centre
The music therapy service has been
running at Honeylands, through
charitable funding, since January
2001. Initially, this was for 3 hours
per week (with approximately 40
children benefitting) but as the
need has grown, the number of
children benefitting has risen to
approximately 120 with music
therapy being provided for 20 hours
a week. Regular grant requests have
been and continue to be submitted,
together with charity events and
outside donations which have
ensured the service keeps going. In
the past year, 120 children with a
wide range of severe special needs
have benefitted from music therapy.
Multiple referrals from the clinical
team and the continued growth of
a waiting list illustrate the need for
on-going music therapy provision
as part of the services offered at
the Centre.
The service is monitored and
evaluated in the following ways:
• Music therapy aims are set with
individual children and parents
and their progress is reviewed
• Evidence is collated in the form
of written clinical observations
and music therapy reports
completed for team reviews
• Video evidence is stored and
information shared with parents
• Questionnaires are completed
by parents for feedback
• The music therapist writes a
report as part of a diagnostic
assessment and for the child’s
“Statement of Special Educational
Need”
All this evidence is used to determine
the child and family’s future needs.
Current Funding
Applications by Honeylands
Children’s Charity are continually
being made, together with other
fund-raising events in an effort to
ensure the work of the Charity at
the Centre continues. £50,000.00
annually is required to ensure the
same level of service is maintained
each year.
BODY ST YLE
EXETER
The Ultimate in Body Toning
The Old Vet’nary
continued from page 93
leavers took to, and were very
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I left them all behind almost 25 years
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