Category Archives: Ochiltree

A Musical Journey Across Our Classes 

đŸŽ¶ A Musical Journey Across Our Classes 

It’s been a busy and creative time in our music sessions, with learners across the school exploring sound, rhythm and technology in exciting ways. 

đŸŒ©ïž Primary and Lammermuir Classes 

Our younger learners had great fun bringing songs to life. We sang Mr Macarella with enthusiasm and explored the sounds of weather through I Hear Thunder and Rain Rain Go Away. Using a range of instruments—including drums, thunder drums, rainsticks and accordion—students experimented with loud and quiet sounds, creating their own imaginative soundscapes. 

đŸŽ” Pentland Class 

Loopimal interface (c) Yayatoy

Pentland class combined music and technology to create pieces that were both energetic and calming. Using the Loopimal app on iPads, learners built lively beats by swiping shapes onto a timeline, creating music to move to. Afterwards, they used the Bloom app to compose gentle, peaceful soundscapes, perfect for relaxing and unwinding. 

The interface of the Bloom app. A tap creates an circle and corresponding sound that then gently repeats and fades like ripples in a pond. (c) Generative Music

đŸ„ Secondary Cross-Class Groups 

Our secondary learners explored music in a hands-on and playful way using boomwhackers. They investigated how sound is created by looking, listening and experimenting—tapping the tubes on their bodies and classroom surfaces to produce different tones. They also stepped into the world of digital music production, creating uptempo backing tracks in GarageBand, experimenting with genres from rock to house. 

🌟 Soundbeam Adventures 

Soundbeam switches, sensor and console (c) Soundbeam

A highlight this term has been the introduction of our new Soundbeam kit. After staff training, students had the chance to explore this innovative technology, which uses switches and infrared beams to create music. One of the most popular activities was the Jungle scenario, where students triggered animal sounds and video clips while using Soundbeams to play flute and percussion sounds. 

This exciting new resource has already been a big hit, and we’re looking forward to developing our skills and creativity with it even further next year. 

It’s been wonderful to see creativity, curiosity and collaboration shine through music across all classes! đŸŽ¶Â 

Therapy Continues to Inspire 

Around the school, our Music Therapists, Sophie and Ellie, continue their fantastic work with the children, providing engaging and meaningful sessions that encourage communication, self-expression, and wellbeing. Through music-based activities, children are given opportunities to explore sounds, develop social skills, and build confidence in a supportive and nurturing environment. 

Alongside this, Charan’s Dance Therapy sessions remain as popular as ever. The children thoroughly enjoy taking part in movement-based activities that promote creativity, coordination, and self-confidence while offering a fun and energetic way to express themselves. 

Our school choir has also continued to flourish, helping children grow in confidence when using their voices. By taking turns using the microphone, pupils are developing their speaking and singing confidence, while action songs and call-and-response activities encourage participation, listening skills, and teamwork. It has been wonderful to see the children engage with the opportunities to perform and take part. 

These therapeutic and creative opportunities continue to make a positive impact across the school, helping children develop confidence, communication skills, and a love of music and movement. 

Secondary Sport and Fitness Activities Part 2

We’ve been busy again in Secondary, keeping active and trying out new sports! đŸ’ȘđŸƒâ€â™€ïž

It’s been great to see everyone getting involved, building fitness and enjoying a range of different activities along the way. Plenty of energy, smiles and team spirit all round!

Football at Broxburn United Sports Club ⚜

Archery đŸč

Golf at American Golf Driving Range ⛳

Dancing at DanceWorld Studios đŸ•ș

And finally 2 weeks altogether at Deer Park Bowling 🎳

Cricket Festival

🏏 On Monday, three of our athletes took part in the first-ever Edinburgh Disability Cricket Festival at Inverleith Park!

Joining pupils from across the East of Scotland, they had a fantastic time — especially teaming up with pupils from Tynecastle High School. The day was packed with action as they developed their striking, bowling, catching, throwing and running skills.

To top it all off, we finished with a well-earned picnic in the park đŸ§ș😋 — a perfect end to a brilliant day!

Secondary PE event

On Monday afternoon we hosted our Secondary PE event.

A BIG thank you to the parents and carers who came along . We enjoyed sharing all the different activities and skills we have been working on this year.

Warming-up in the sunshine ☀

Activities

Lovely feedback from our parents 😊

 

A Busy and Joyful Term in Music

đŸŽ¶ A Busy and Joyful Term in Music

This term has been a wonderfully busy one for Music, filled with creativity, participation, and plenty of joyful noise. We’ve been fortunate to continue our partnership with Live Music Now, whose visits always bring excitement, inspiration, and high-quality live performance experiences for our pupils. Alongside them, our Music Therapists have continued their invaluable work, supporting children through personalised, expressive sessions that foster communication, confidence, and emotional wellbeing.

🌈 Early Years Musical Adventures

Our younger learners have also enjoyed a rich musical experience this term. Caterpillar Music visited Hopetoun class, with Lammermuir joining in for a series of lively themed sessions full of songs, actions, instruments, and sensory play. Early Years music has also included further activities focused on movement, choosing favourite nursery rhymes, and opportunities for gentle musical relaxation. These sessions have supported early communication, turn‑taking, and joy in shared musical experiences.

😌 Dance Therapy: Movement, Music, and Mindfulness

Our Dance Therapy sessions with Charan have also been a highlight. In addition to regular groups, a special Thursday lunchtime session has been running, where Charan collaborates with Gordon, who provides flute accompaniment.

The combination of gentle melodies, soft percussion, and expressive movement has created a calm and relaxing space for the children. It’s been lovely to see pupils engaging in this soothing environment, with singing and vocalisation in response to the calm movement and sounds.

🎧 Making Musical Choices: ASDAN Awards

Several of our secondary pupils have been working hard toward their ASDAN awards, focusing on skills such as making choices and expressing preferences in Music. Using switches, students have been selecting pieces of music and choosing which songs they’d like to hear in full.

The range of musical tastes has been fantastic—from rock classics and ABBA favourites to Gigglebellies, Louis Armstrong, and more. The sessions have often been full of energy, with pupils showing good attention and engagement. Scarves and ribbons have added extra fun as the children move, sway, and dance along to the music they’ve chosen.


It’s been a term full of creativity, expression, and meaningful musical moments. We can’t wait to see what next term brings!

Ochiltree Term 3

We’ve had another super busy term in Ochiltree and have been working hard to complete lots of our ASDAN challenges. One of our favourite challenges was learning about jobs that people do in school and we think we did a fantastic job of helping out with them all. We also enjoyed our latest challenges which were all about being out in the community and we had lots of fun visiting the shopping centre, the Lanthorn library and the cafĂ© at Excite. We got very creative when designing our own tartan sashes for the ceilidh and when making and painting our fruit bowls with the help of Potter Around. We’re loving the arrival of the better weather and are looking forward to more fun and adventures!

Happy Easter from Team Ochiltree!

 

Secondary Sport & Fitness Activities

On Wednesday afternoons our Secondary pupils have been trying out some different sport and fitness activities…

Golf at American Golf Driving Range

Bootcamp with Mel from FoxFit

Bowls at West Lothian Indoor Bowling Club

Gentle seated exercise class with Heidi from Heidi Macdonald Fitness

Term 3 Secondary PE

Athletes in Ochiltree and Duntarvie have continued to come together on Monday afternoons to develop their physical activity and motor skills.

This term we have focused on:

Mobility activities (based on the Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Programme) with Louise

Stretching and body awareness with Jill

Golf and Croquet with Rachael

Merry Christmas from Ochiltree

We have had another busy term in Ochiltree and we can’t believe we’re already at the Christmas holidays!

This term we have been busy working towards some of our ASDAN challenges. The first was through our weekly health group where we really enjoyed our sessions with Childsmile. We explored healthy food through games and we practiced using the big mirror and toothbrush to brush Monty the puppet’s teeth. We completed our second challenge by learning about the festival of Diwali through music, dance, art and sensory activities.

We’ve also had a busy couple of weeks getting into the festive spirit, we had a lovely Christmas lunch, a fun packed singalong and enjoyed games and dancing at our Christmas party, we topped this all off with a trip to the shopping centre to see all the lights.

Team Ochiltree wish you all a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year!

Secondary Christmas Party 🎄🎁

We had lots of fun at our Christmas Party this afternoon – dancing đŸ•ș playing games ☃ and then relaxing with a short festive film🎬and some treats 🍰

Our winners were…

  • Funky hat corners – Megan
  • Pin the nose on Santa – Alex
  • Best decorated biscuit – Cole
  • Reindeer toss – Ruaridh
  • Best dancer – Ethan
  • Best actions in Port & Starboard Christmas version – Stanley

The adults had fun too 😂