Skylarks
Welcome to the Skylarks Class! 
Communication
A Total Communication approach is used in the Skylarks; approaches include Signalong, photos, symbols and spoken words.
These approaches are used in conjunction with your child’s Communication Guidelines to ensure an individualised approach. Where appropriate, children used PECS, Core Vocabulary boards and other strategies to build their communication skills.
Some symbols are used around the classroom to allow children to request the toilet or to use the outdoor area in exchange for the symbol.
Organisation
The classroom is divided into three key areas. The small work room is where we can access the plasma touchscreen computer and also where we meet as a whole class. The main body of the classroom is set up for table top activities or activities using the tuff tray. The carpet area is set up for Developmental Movement Play opportunities to enable children to learn vital skills in self-regulation and give them the tools they require to meet their sensory needs.
Our outdoor learning environment is kept deliberately as a blank canvas so that we can use it for a variety of purposes including physical development, play, and learning outdoors. The back door to the classroom is open for the majority of the learning day.
Learning Styles
The Skylarks are working at Flightpath 1 which means they learn through exploring and playing. We use approaches such as Attention Autism to support children to develop their engagement skills. For every session there are multiple resources available to the children to ensure that there is always something available to motivate them.
Getting Ready for Learning
Every session is preceded by a Getting Ready for Learning time. This ensures that the children have their sensory needs met and are ready to absorb new learning. Strategies for this may include the use of the Developmental Movement Play equipment, songs and videos on YouTube related to our learning, items from the individual sensory boxes or time spent with an adult in Intensive Interaction.
Key Days / Activities
Tuesday – Sarah Woods leads the class every Tuesday
Wednesday – Physical development is built into our everyday curriculum but we have a focus on this on area each Wednesday. We also swim on this day in the school pool and so full kit is required.
Staff
Teacher: Elaine Curran
TAs: Adam Hinchcliffe and Joanne Brice
Mid Day Leaders: Chantelle
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 the 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.