‘Teachers who love teaching, teach children to love learning.'

Our teacher is Darren.  Other adults helping us in class are Bella, Laura, Gemma, Toni and Marie.

In Puffin class we are on pre-semi-formal and semi-formal and formal pathways. 

We love to learn through play-based, multi-sensory, research and other meaningful opportunities such as adult-led practical activities, , role play, child-led play and experiences outside the classroom. These cross-curricular learning experiences develop our functional skills, independence and increased access to our curriculum.

Throughout our learning journey, we focus on the following key areas:

Cognition & Learning

Communication & Language

Social, Emotional & Mental Health

Physical & Sensory

Independence & Self-help

Our progress and achievements are recorded in our class learning journey, floor books, exercise books and individual learning goals set through Evidence for Learning.   We also share our exciting adventures on Class Dojo and our webpage.

Communication and Interaction

In Puffin class we spend lots of time developing our communication and interaction skills. We enjoy a daily good morning news session and snack time where we focus on interaction and communication.  We also have weekly 'Weekend News' sessions where we share photos, news and stories about our weekend and then write about them.

Throughout the school day, we use a multi-sensory approach to develop and consolidate language.  PECs, Makaton and Widgit visuals are in all areas of the classroom and used across all subjects. Colourful Semantics is used to support the understanding and application of new and topic words.  Children have regular opportunities to apply their learning in the across school, in the local community and termly class trips.

Reading and Phonics

In Puffin class we read every day. We love to read and explore texts in a number of ways - We use drama, small world and sensory experiences to explore texts and stories. The children have access to books at their reading level including plenty books, audiobooks, online texts through Bug Club, and physical games. Children can access a library of books in class, the main school building and the local library.

In Puffin class we read 1:1 with an adult every morning. Phonics is explored daily at children's individual phases, in morning tasks, phonics lesson starters and weekly phonics sessions. Some children may be identified for a reading or phonics interventions through our termly assessments.

This term we are looking at 'Wild Weather' by Usborne as part of our Extreme Earth topic.

Sensory

We all have opportunities throughout the school day to take a movement break and have a sensory snack as we know this is essential to support regulation and readiness to learn. 

Identified children will also take part in sessions such as;

Sensory processing

Rebound Therapy

Deep Pressure

Attention Autism

M.O.V.E

PSHE & Life Skills

In Puffin class we focus on Life skills and PSHE skills to build independence. We have a lesson each week but skills are taught and supported daily across the curriculum, in class routines and through experiences in the local community.

Life skills include; Functional self help skills, social skills, and vocational skills.

PSHE include; Rules and responsibilities, relationships, health and wellbeing, staying safe and Money.

As a school we have our 5 Healthy Aims which we work hard everyday to achieve.

Class Timetable

Alongside our main class timetable above, we have individual timetables as some of our children access interventions and personalised programmes. 

Every morning we begin our day by identifying the date, weather and the activities on the daily timetable. Where possible changes are marked as a surprise and spoken through. Up coming events or visitors are also added with an appropriate visual to prepare the children.

Local Area Learning Map

To support in class learning the interventions and personalised programmes can include some of the following. You will be notified if your child has been identified as benefitting from these experiences.