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 -Autumn 2

Autumn Term 2 24/25Curriculum Info for parents: Topic - Europe
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 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 sessions Rowan/Alder class will be doing together throughout the week- Within these sessions we will try to focus on our half term 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
CreativeJunk modelling – famous landmarks/buildings in Europe- Leaning tower of Pisa, Eiffel tower. Making collage/ printing – European flags
Problem SolvingWe will be exploring a range of instruments and how to create sounds from these. Exploring a range of boxes and containers with rice/lentils to create different sounds. Filling these boxes / pouring rice, pasta, lentils into containers to create the sounds.
MusicListening to children’s European songs/ exploring instruments alongside these. Exploring European bands- Exploring music linked to ABBA
StoriesThis half term group 1 will be exploring bag books. This half term group 2 will begin exploring sensory stories in the sensory room.
Cooking/messy play/explorationExploring making homemade pasta Tomato sauce with the pasta
Other events/ sessions / SMSC daysChildren in need whole school event Christmas activities- off timetable for the last 2 weeks of this half term doing a range of Christmas activities – cooking, craft, Christmas stories, Christmas card making, whole school Christmas lunch, Christingle, Whole school Christmas themed day – Pantomime themed- making crafts, music, grotto, dressing up , photo booth, sensory light trail.
Ideas to do at home:-Listen to a range of European music at home with your child. You tube is a good place to source music from for this. -Create some cooking experience/cooking exploration sessions linked to foods from Europe – Explore making homemade breads/exploring bread dough with different smells being added e.g. Rosemary / garlic. Create homemade pasta- explore a range of cooked and uncooked shaped pastas. Tasting different pasta sauces. Other celebration events over the half term - Bonfire night- Have some sparklers at home / hot dogs and warm soup/ create firework patterns with laser light/ watch firework displays on YouTube- Explore glow sticks- some pupils may like to experience a firework display. - Christmas time- exploring Christmas stories, Christmas music, exploring a tray of Christmas decorations, Christmas cooking, visit Christmas tree festival, and going for drive in the car through towns looking at the Christmas lights.