Kestrels
Welcome to the Kestrels Class!
Communication
We use a range of communicative approaches which are appropriate to the individual children including photographs, symbols, communication books and electronic communication aids. A symbolic timetable is displayed each day to ensure the children are aware of what is happening and when this will take place during the day.
Organisation
Although the children within the Kestrels class will gather as a whole class at key points during the day, the majority of the learning will be completed in smaller groups, dependent upon learning need and style. Children will work across both learning spaces within the classroom and group work will enable the teaching and learning to be more focussed and individualised to each child. Children will access either, See and Learn, which develops pre-reading skills or small group Phonics/Spelling sessions to develop their reading ability multiple times per week.
Learning Styles
We learn best through practical, hands on experiences which enables the children to learn and consolidate concepts by seeing and feeling them. This involves direct learning time as well as sensory, experiential learning.
Getting Ready for Learning
Sensory Profiles are used to ensure that the children have the correct equipment to support them to be ready to learn. Each day is started by either time outside or through wake up shake up to get us moving. Short bursts in learning with movement breaks are used for children who require this. At the end of the school day the children have a relaxation session to settle them and prepare them for their journey home.
Key Days / Activities
Tuesday: Swimming at Royton for some children
Wednesday: Outdoor Learning (Woods)
Friday: In school swimming for certain children and PE
Staff
Teacher: Charlotte Harlow
TAs: Jill Lomax, Julie Graham and Nathan Tierney
Lunchtime: Lisa Russell
Sign of the Week
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 our ‘Signs of the Week’ for the current term so that you can learn the signs and further this learning at home.
To view this signs of the week for this topic please watch the 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 focussing on healthy eating and how children can make healthy lifestyle choices.