Given the various discussions in the recent press about Sing Up and the resource, we feel it would be useful to describe the journey so far of the Song Bank's development.

At the very first announcement by the Government of the funding of a National Singing Programme, the idea of a national songbook was mentioned as a principal strand. On Howard Goodall's announcement as National Singing Ambassador - and further to his wide research and consultancy amongst those people working with primary aged children - this idea was developed to become a large, flexible, diverse resource of around 300 songs that would be available in print and online. The Song Bank online, and the selection of songs in the termly magazines, was born!

On the exciting news in February 2008 that the funding was to be continued to 2011, the target of songs was increased to offer between 300 and 600 songs. The aim is to create a flexible, growing resource that will continue to allow the greatest choice; it is not our role to promote a number of essential or 'compulsory' songs for children, but rather to offer a directory from which you can select something suitable for your group, safe in the knowledge that the songs have been carefully presented for the primary sector. The list of songs in the Songbank is based on recommendations by you: specialists working with primary-aged children who tell us about songs that work particularly well for the age group.

We think it is important to reflect the full range of the nation's traditional and modern cultures in a rich collection of children's songs - as the Song Bank evolves and expands, this is what it will do. In the first six months of the programme Sing Up has managed to reach and engage nearly 10,000 schools. The mixed format of the resource - from audio CDs and printed song sheets in the termly magazine, to downloadable mp3s and full accompaniments online - makes it flexible and accessible. You can use some or all of these files as starting points for making the songs your own.

At every stage of its journey we are working in close consultation with teachers, music leaders and parents to ensure that it is a resource that works for you and achieves its fundamental aim of getting every primary-aged child singing. We welcome your comments and suggestions, they help us to keep the Sing Up resource fresh and relevant.

If you have any,  please contact Sing Up.

The Sing Up team