The Riverside Primary school samba band gave a taste of some of Stirling’s new professionally trained artistic talent by performing at a Stirling Council conference in Dunblane.

The mixed group of mainstream pupils and children receiving extended learning support had five weekly percussion sessions, learning rhythm, pulses and pitch, with former Royal Scottish National Orchestra principal percussionist Pam Dow. It is part of a joint project with Artlink Central, a charitable organisation which brings arts to special needs groups.

The Artlink schools project, funded by the Scottish Executive and Stirling Council, is now in its third year. It has lent a cultural edge to social inclusion by bringing professional musicians, actors, artists and writers to mixed groups of pupils in 14 mainstream and special schools in Stirling.

Development of the sensory curriculum is one of the project’s main aims. At Kildean School, pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties enjoyed music sessions with children from nearby St Mary’s Primary. Artlink musician Clare Sargent says: “It’s non-threatening and non-verbal,” adding that music offers an outlet for expresssion and communication to young people who do not have verbal skills.

Staff development is also central to Artlink’s work. Class teachers and learning support assistants have been involved in the sessions and attended twilight training. Teachers and specialists agree their roles are mutually enhancing. Teachers are loath to push special needs children too hard, says Sheila Lynch, a senior teacher of extended learning support at Riverside Primary. “The specialists push the children more and expect more from them.”

Artlink specialists have also encouraged teachers to intervene less during expressive work sessions. Sheila Dickson, an extended learning support teacher at Callander Primary, says a filmed bookbinding session showed that adults too often interrupted children’s work. “We must be careful not to swamp them,” she says. “The children were organised.”

The work has also had a tangible effect on pupils’ behaviour. “It has greatly enhanced children’s opinions of the pupils with special needs,” says Ms Lynch. “They now see themselves as equals.”

In drama and puppetry sessions for Bannockburn Primary and Whins of Milton special school, Bannockburn headteacher Camilla Dickson has seen children with short attention spans and minor behavioural difficulties take on the role of mentor to pupils with complex learning difficulties.