Welcome to the Starlings Class!
Staff
Teacher: Sam Lord
TAs: Christine Pimlott, Danielle Taylor and Matthew Brook
Mid Day Leader: Andy Fitzman
Newsletter
Ticket to Ride
For our final half term of the year the children have enjoyed the topic ‘Ticket to Ride’. Our song has been very exciting we’ve used early phonics skills to tell the story “We All go Travelling By” by using various musical instruments. Each child has enjoyed using bells, the horn, the sound tubes to recreate sounds made by all the vehicles in the story.
As always, Attention Autism has been one of our most anticipated sessions and all the children have been able to get involved in the stage 3 activity.
Sports week was an absolute hit with the children in the Starlings class. Our competitive spirit broke free in the boccia tournament even though we were sadly knocked out in the first round. On Sports day it was very exciting for some children to complete the races in the playground with families watching, while some of us stayed in class and had a mini sports day in the garden.
This half term is the last for some of our classmates at Kingfisher as they will be moving to high school in September so we have been enjoying the last of our time together consolidating our play skills and also learning to play with some new toys which have been introduced to class as well as new parachute games.
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.
Click play to watch this half terms Signalong video!
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
The following activities are suggested as appropriate homework activities which you can enjoy with your child and reinforce the learning we are focusing on this half term:
Our theme this half term is ‘On The Move’. Can you move in different ways when you are at home or out in the community (e.g. skipping, running, hopping and jumping?). Can you use different ways of moving around like a bike or a scooter? Can you dance in different ways to different kinds of music? Can you look at different types of transport and the noises they make such as trucks, ambulances, planes or helicopters?
Learning time will focus around a few key areas, the first being Play. Play is a fundamental way of children developing their learning skills through multi-sensory experiences, which can be applied to other learning tasks across the week, for example, filling and emptying sand or water could later develop an understanding of the concept of something being ‘full’ or ‘not full’. Building opportunities in play can develop an understanding of balance, structure and the ability to turn take or understand the concept of adding ‘more’. Communication is another key area that teaching and learning will focus on – short and motivating activities such as interacting with puppets or making choices, supported by communication aids, will provide clear opportunities for expressive and receptive communication within the Starlings. The third area of learning we will explore at multiple points in the week is Wellbeing. Having opportunities for the children to explore sensory learning opportunities that will help them regulate will be key in supporting each child during the school day. Sessions including Relaxation and Mindfullness will help the children ground themselves and develop calming strategies that can be replicated in their wider life. Following discussion with the class team – are some of these approaches things you could do at home?
The starlings will be using this half-term to practice our movement skills. In line with or theme ‘On The Move’, we will be completing various Developmental Movement Play (DMP) sessions. Every Monday, we will use Soft Play to crawl, roll, slide and climb. Physical Development Sessions in the Small Hall will alternate between obstacle courses – improving our balance, climbing and ability to follow a course, and DMP using different resources to rock, pull, climb and jump safely. Movement is key to our sensory regulation.
We will be starting ‘Personal Care’ sessions in the Starlings. Can you continue to develop self-help skills around tooth brushing, face and hand washing, brushing hair and dressing yourself? Can you focus on taking off your socks and shoes and then putting them back on again? Can you do and undo different fastenings like zips, Velcro, buttons and shoelaces? Can you dress yourself if your clothing is laid out for you? Can you choose appropriate clothing for the weather, with support?
When you are at home, spend time with your family. Read a book together, watch a film together, cook a meal together and stay socially aware and safe in your community.
