Award-winning collaboration: embedding therapeutic practice in special education
We’re proud to celebrate the success of the “Beyond the Session – embedding therapeutic practice in school culture” project, winner of the PHA-sponsored Partnership in Public Health category at the Advancing Healthcare Awards Northern Ireland 2025, held in Belfast on Thursday 23rd October 2025.
This innovative project which was led by Music Therapist Stuart Watson of Make a Melody Ltd, was part of the wider Special Schools Partnership Programme developed by the PHA. This model demonstrates excellent cross-sectoral, multi-agency partnership, working together that has improved outcomes for Children and Young People in Special Schools.
This project exemplifies integrated and collaborative working, bringing together Music Therapy, with Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapist and Therapy Assistants from Southern HSC Trust, and Education staff in Donard Special School, to co-deliver therapeutic support for pupils with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
About the project:
What made this project stand out was its dual focus: delivering clinical interventions while building lasting capacity amongst education staff. Through a structured 8-week intervention, the AHPs modelled therapeutic techniques to education staff supporting them to lead sessions independently, ensuring this model targeted a greater number of children and was sustainable far beyond the life of the intervention itself.
Importantly, the project also addressed a critical gap in pupil voice, where traditional involvement methods were unable to capture the voice of the child with complex needs. This team explored creative, non-verbal approaches to ensure these pupils could meaningfully make personal choice, communicate their needs and ultimately shape the services designed for them.
The results speak volumes: pupils showed significant developmental gains, and staff confidence rose from 47–67% to 80–85%, with continued improvement three months later. The results highlighted the wider impact on the overall mental and emotional wellbeing of the children and their families and carers.
This embedded approach complements and builds upon the ongoing specialist work of AHPs in special schools by integrating therapeutic support and practice wherever possible into every aspect of school life, ensuring continuity and sustained impact for children and young people.
Feedback from the Award judges:
The Advancing Healthcare Award judges praised the team for creating a sustainable practice, using Music Therapy as an enabling agent to capture the voices of children. Julie McGinty, PHA Special School Partnership Lead, said “I am delighted at the success of the project to date. It is invaluable to be able to give a voice to children and young people who are seldom heard. During the project we observed what you could only describe as moments of pure joy and happiness, which created the most wonderful atmosphere within the classroom and let each and every one of these amazing children shine in their own individual special way. It is a truly innovative approach and should be expanded across all Special Schools in N.I”
Mariluz Malcolmson, Principal of Donard Special School, said “We are incredibly proud of our therapy team and delighted that their outstanding work has been recognised with this award. This achievement reflects not only the dedication and expertise of our therapists, but also strong partnership and shared commitment between the therapy team and our school. Together, we have built the capacity, skills, and confidence of our staff, ensuring that pupil voice is at the heart of our work. By actively capturing and responding to the voices of our children, we have strengthened engagement, enhanced wellbeing, and created an environment where every pupil can thrive”.
Congratulations to Stuart and the multidisciplinary team for demonstrating how true partnership working can transform public health outcomes in education settings.
AHP Team:
- Music Therapist: Stuart Watson
- Occupational Therapists: Ciara O’Neill and Coleen Cushnahan
- Physiotherapist: Dianne Rollins
- Speech and Language Therapists: Aisling Hanna and Lisa Toal
- Speech and Language Therapy Assistant: Hannah Daly
The AHP team are pictured here with Helen O’Hare, Assistant Director for Finance, who presented the award and Tara Mills, who hosted the evening.
PHA Chief Executive Officer Aidan Dawson and NI Commissioner for Children and Young People Chris Quinn visiting the project at Donard School in March 2025.