Schools can choose from a growing range of support:
- First Access Info Video – A specially commissioned video about First Access in Wiltshire Schools.
- First Access Certificate Template – A customisable certificate for pupils who have completed a First Access Programme, and offering signposting for further opportunities to make music.
- First Access Champions – Support to Wiltshire School to start or maintain a First Access Programme.
- Find Associates who provide First Access here
- iPads for First Access – support in using iPads effectively + access to sets of iPads
- Subsidy for First Access tuition provided by incoming tutors / organisations or designated school staff
- Access to First Access instrument sets
If you’re interested in more than one of these, please contact us for advice as our resources are limited.
First Access Certificate/Signposting Template
In collaboration with our First Access Experts group, we have produced a free resource for anyone delivering First Access in Wiltshire. This resource takes the form of a customisable certificate for pupils who have completed a First Access Programme, with an additional page to signpost pupils and families to further music making opportunities within their school.
Click here to download the resource.
First Access Info Video
Last year we commissioned a short film advocating First Access and in particular it’s impact in schools in Wiltshire.
Please feel free to share.
First Access Champion Support
We have two First Access Champions in Wiltshire who have funded time to support schools maintain or start a First Access Programme.
Their work is not to directly deliver First Access, but to support school staff and/or Associates to deliver a First Access Programme which could include signposting, talking through options, planning and starting a new programme, support for first time schools or supporting school staff to deliver.
The two spread the county in the North and South. Should you wish to contact either, please email Martin.
In addition to their normal school interventions, they have provided support packages for school staff and Associates which enabled First Access to continue whilst Covid 19 restrictions were affecting it’s delivery in schools.
Body Percussion
Sara Trenchard offers three exclusive videos to support the delivery of a contact free First Access Programme with Body Percussion as the focus. This three part CPD programme is free to watch below.
Ukulele
Fran Andrews the First Access Champ in the North has put together a run of lessons for school staff or Associates to deliver a Ukulele programme. All in easy chunks, ready to use Power Point files.
iPads for First Access and Projects
We have currently four sets of iPads, ready for Wiltshire schools to use for FREE, as long as they are used in some way to deliver a First Access programme.
Each charge and sync case holds 16 iPads, with accessories to support a class of up to 32 pupils. The sets come pre-installed with GarageBand, Launchpad and Apple Classroom as standard. If you require any additional software please let us know when you make a booking request and we will try to accommodate your request (subject to app cost, availability and suitability).
- Schools – an iPad set can usually be booked for pairs of school terms (1&2, 3&4, 5&6).
- iPad sets can also be accessed for particular projects or sessions subject to availability
Users will need to collect and return iPad sets from / to Bath where they are stored / maintained.
We also have have a small number of individual iPad minis all set up for schools to use for more advanced recording and composing. These come with an audio interface, mic and MIDI keyboard.– we can make these available to some schools for limited periods of time.
If you would like to request use of a set of iPads or check on a booking you have made, please contact info@wiltshiremusicconnect.org.uk with the subject line ‘iPad request‘. Please be clear about the period / dates for which you would like to have a set.
A guide to using Apple Classroom on iPads
A guide to using GarageBand on iPads
Subsidy for First Access tuition
We can subsidise First Access tuition where it is delivered by one of our Associate tutors and / or a designated member of your school’s staff. We encourage schools to think about how incoming expertise can be linked to wider agendas such as literacy & numeracy.
We had originally planned to open our usual First Access subsidy scheme for AY24-25 on 16 April 2024, but current uncertainty about Arts Council England’s Music Hub Investment Programme means that we are unable to. We will announce a new opening date as and when possible.
Access to First Access instrument sets
We can also provide access to some instrument sets for Primary Schools to use at subsidised rates.
Instrument Sets can be hired by Schools working with Associate tutors delivering First Access. These can be requested when applying for subsidy and the cost for academic year 2023-24 starts at £211.90 (+VAT) per LA school year (subject to availability). Instruments from First Access sets cannot be taken home by pupils.
Schools delivering their own First Access work can request sets to hire (priority may be given to those using Associates). You need to use the same request form as that used for subsidies and provide details of anticipated numbers of pupils, year groups and duration. Again its important to note that instruments from First Access sets cannot be taken home by pupils.
