Welcome to the Ducks Class!
Staff
Teacher: Emma Dixon
TAs: Greta Burton and Shauntelle Dawkins
Mid Day Leader: TBC
Newsletter
Ticket to Ride
The Ducks have had a fantastic half term, learning and achieving new skills whilst having lots of fun. Our topic this half term has been ‘Ticket to ride’ and we have enjoyed visiting a different ‘day trip’ each week including the cinema, the farm and the funfair. The children have loved getting messy and creative during our skill building session where we have been focusing on mark making. We have been practicing making marks with a variety of tools such as paint brushes, rollers, cotton wool balls and splatters. The children particularly enjoyed splatting the shaving foam and mixing different colours of food colouring into it too!
During our sensory food play session, we have been making packed lunches that we would take on our day trips, for example: Jam sandwiches, cheese sandwiches and mixed salads. It has been amazing to see the progress the children have made and they have been demonstrating an increased tolerance of new textures, tastes and smells.
Hola!! This half term, we celebrated Languages Day, where we explored ‘Spain’. This was an exciting and immersive day that offered lots of sensory exploration including Spanish music, Spanish food, and Spanish themed messy play. The children were keen to taste Paella, mixed peppers and lemons too – albeit they weren’t too keen on the lemon juice!
Sports day!! – Wow the children in the Ducks class amazed us with their resilience as they participated in team competitions including a boccia tournament and team races. The children tried hard to take an active part and we are really proud of them. Go team Ducks!!
During our ‘Play’ sessions we have been exploring resources linked to our weekly themes, for example: we explored sea creatures for a visit to the Sealife, and Popcorn for a visit to the cinema! I am pleased to confirm that each and every child in the Ducks class thoroughly enjoyed turning the lights down low, exploring a popcorn tuff tray whilst watching & listening to Disney songs on the computer – they were fully immersed in a cinema experience 😊
I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the success of each and every child in the Ducks class and to share with you how proud we are of them. The children have worked incredibly hard this year and it has been my pleasure to be their teacher. It has been wonderful to witness new learning and huge achievements that have been made and I can’t wait to see what next year brings for them all. Thank you to all parents & carers for your continued support this year.
A very big WELL DONE to the Ducks – you are all super stars!! Have a safe & happy summer break.
Rayann, Nic, Rachel & Courtney!
Signalong
At Kingfisher we use Signalong as a part of a Total Communication Approach, we are constantly using core vocabulary with the children to support their language development and then through each of our topics we introduce new signs and language, which extends their vocabulary further. We also have two “Signs of the Week” which helps maintain and extend key knowledge and skills of everyday vocabulary.
Each half term we will be creating a short video showcasing and demonstrating signs relavent for the current term so that you can learn the signs and further this learning at home.
You can view this half terms signalong video below:
Lunchtime
If your child has a school dinner, the school menus can be accessed by clicking here. For children who bring a packed lunch, please remember to provide healthy and balanced options. We are a Healthy School and will be focusing on healthy eating and how children can make healthy lifestyle choices.
How You Can Help at Home
Below are suggested appropriate homework activities for you and your child to engage in at home.
Communication
- Encourage your child to make choices from a given selection. This could be choosing a snack or a favourite toy. Will they reach or guide you to what they want?
- Engage in ‘PLAY’ with your child. This includes sitting alongside your child and mirroring their ‘play’.
- Engage in ‘Intensive interaction’ by copying their actions and vocalisations during ‘PLAY’.
- Provide opportunities for your child to request ‘Help’ or ‘Support’ i.e., Allow them to open a bottle or activate a toy; will they bring the item to you to request help?
Cognition & Learning
This half-term, we will be focusing on Ticket to ride! You can support your child’s learning by:
- Watching & listening to our story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKcrsv_t8Ko
- Play with vehicles and explore traveling. i.e., go for a ride on a different method of transport. Maybe you could go for a ride on a tram or bus!
- Enjoy listening to ‘The wheels on the bus’ nursery rhyme together.
Wellbeing
- Encourage your child to carry out personal care routines with your support i.e., tooth brushing, hand washing, face washing etc.
- Support your child in dressing/undressing themselves in the morning including putting their coat & shoes on.
- Encourage your child at meal times and use cutlery, if appropriate. Perhaps they will use a plastic spoon? Maybe you can guide them to use a fork to pick up their food?
Sensory & Physical
This half-term we will be focusing on balance & coordination during our Physical development sessions and we will be accessing the bikes on Jack’s playground. You can help your child at home by:
- Visiting the park and using the equipment i.e., balancing, climbing, use the swings.
- Listen to some music at home and move your body!
- Practice riding & bike or scooter.
