Supporting Special Development School with Mental Health program

The Song Room delivered an Arts and Wellbeing program from the Schools Mental Health Menu to Springvale Park Special Development School in Victoria.

The Song Room consulted with school leaders to identify the programs art form, goals and objectives. Teaching Artist, Andy Howitt, then delivered the 10-week sequential, social-emotional-learning (SEL) dance program. Fifty students, teachers and aids took part. Lessons were tailored to address students’ specific, special development needs through trauma-informed, strengths-based and creative pedagogies.

Dance engages multiple sensory systems through whole-body movement, which supports self-regulation, sensory integration, connection to self and others, increasing self-awareness and body control, while lowering stress responses. The dance lessons at Springvale Park Special Development School were delivered in a variety of ways to ensure all students benefited from the program. A small group of eight boys took part in hip-hop classes, whole classes used game-based warm-ups, and the whole school took part in half-day workshops and performances. The students loved it.

The key mental health and wellbeing benefits observed in students taking part in the program were improvements in wellbeing, confidence and social emotional skills, spatial awareness, body control and strength. Supporting the growing research on the positive impact of dance and movement-based therapies, the school is seeing an improvement in wellbeing and a decrease in symptoms of anxiety and depression.

“The Song Room increased our students’ movement ability, as well as their confidence. Andy never doubted that all of our students could engage with dance. His belief in them inspired the entire school community. He worked tirelessly to tailor the program to include every student. It’s been a beautiful journey that he took our students on, one that started with some resistance and resulted in harmonious movement.”

Mae Saunders, Mental Health Practitioner, Springvale Park Special Development School.

The Song Room dance days were full of joy for students and teachers. Enthusiasm increased with each week and the excitement and pride spread across the school. With opportunities to include parents and carers, the program brought the school community together, creating a sense of belonging for students who felt disconnected during the pandemic.

The Song Room is extremely proud of the wellbeing outcomes achieved for students through the delivery of its evidence-based social emotional learning through the arts program at Springvale Park Special Development School.

The schools’ clearly defined priorities, challenges, and goals informed the tailored approach, delivered to achieve strong wellbeing outcomes for individual students, specific cohorts, and across the whole school. We extend heartfelt thanks to our school partners, our highly experienced Teaching Artists, and the Victorian Government’s Schools Mental Health Menu for partnering with The Song Room.

The find out more about The Song Room’s Social and Emotional Learning through the Arts program on the Schools Mental Health Menu or go to songroom.org.au/mental-health.