Welcome to Alder

Instructor - Elm Rachel Sanders
Photo of Rachel Sanders

        Welcome to Alder Class!! 😃

We are a small PMLD unit which consists of 10 pupils aged from 4 years to 17 years, we have 8 staff members working with us each day. We all have very high sensory, physical and medical needs. All of our learning is done via a total sensory and communication approach. We have our own tailored PMLD curriculum and use the engagement model which we follow alongside all of our own EHCP learning outcomes to help us to meet all of our learning.  We spend some of our day as a whole group for some key session’s within in the day such as morning and home time routine, physio, massage, dance, parachute sessions as well as snack and dinner time. We have two classrooms next to each other with our own outdoor space to extend or learning into the outdoor area. During times in the day we split into the two classes into two smaller mixed ability groups to focus on some key skills. Some of these sessions include communication, switch work, stories, problem solving and interaction sessions. Alongside all of this we like to go out in the community on trips, mix with other classes around school for focused play sessions and key SMSC days, we have 2 hydro sessions a week and 1 rebound session. We are very busy throughout the week and love to learn through having lots of fun, learning through play and exploration.

Rowan / Alder timetable Summer 2

Summer Term 2 24/25Curriculum Info for parents: Topic - Leisure/Holidays
Rowan/Alder class will be learning through some topic based sessions alongside this all of their learning will be focused on the engagement model assessment stages – Exploration, persistence, anticipation, initiation and realisation and the Woodfields assessment step levels for English, Maths, communication, personal development, pre subject specific – Expression and understanding the worlds plus their own individual PLG’S/EHCP outcomes, Communication, switch work/computer skills, intensive interaction, physical development will be focused on throughout the week on an individual basis and these sessions will have a huge focus around the pupils own PLGS and will be planned to each individual need. Pupils will also get weekly therapy sessions which involve 1 rebound individual session, 2 Hydrotherapy swims as well as an hour each day to focus on physio and other additional physical needs such as walkers/ standers/wedge/roll work. Below is an outline of some of the class group session Rowan/Alder class will be doing together throughout the week- Within these sessions we will try to focus on our half termly topic. When the weather is nice or even dry the pupils will also be doing some of their learning in our outdoor area which is located outside our classroom.
SubjectSession focus this half term
Creative / CookingIn Art we will be making costumes for the school play, sand pictures, making kites and in cooking we will explore making picnic foods such as pastry foods, sandwiches, Eaton Mess etc.
Problem Solving / ExplorationSand play- dry sand with sieves, water wheels; wet sand with buckets, spades, rollers to create patterns, and moulds, making ice creams with ice sand moulds Water play: pouring water, water wheels, different coloured water, guttering and stands Rolling balls down guttering into tubs/nets Cars and car mats Mark making in sand Exploring food/setting up picnic Posting food into boxes Colouring/mark making/collage materials of holiday pictures/ summer time activities Puzzles linked to the beach; summer time activities; sports Exploring games outside – balls; basketball nets; stacking giant soft cubes; exploring targets games; bowling; bat and balls; tin can game.
PATCH Exploring the PATCH and a chance to get hands-on exploring a range of tools, helping to water plants, picking fruits that have been grown such as strawberries. We will sit and listen to nature, read stories, listen to stories on iPads in the sunshine.
StoriesSensory stories- Linked to Holidays/Leisure. e.g. seaside stories, flying kites and going on a picnic.
Other events/ sessions / SMSC days / TripsTrips-Sheringham park Sheringham Arcades Sheringham walk- common, prom, town and picnic at the steam train station. Lighthouse café Events: Sports day Purple picnic day Whole school Summer play- Jack and the baked bean stalk.
Ideas to do at home:- Cooking – make ice lollies, summer puddings - Go for family walks to local parks, beach, caravan/camp sites e.g. Kelling Heath, along the coast to Holkham, Wells, Wroxham to watch the boats on The Broads, explore local arcades - Collect items on your walks leaves, shells, stones- to paint, print with, poke into playdough to create patterns - Visit Sheringham steam train station - Explore water play and sand at home - Read books linked to holidays, going on picnics, sports - If you have any family or friends who children play sports, head along to watch them play.