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.

ALDER timetable – Autumn 2 – 2025

Autumn Term 2 25/26Curriculum Info for parents: Topic - Seasons
Strand and ProfileProfiles in ClassIdeas for Home
Communication and Literacy As a class in Talk for Writing we will be exploring the book- ‘Tree: Seasons Come, Seasons Go’ by Britta Teckentrup. We will continue to do some individual sharing of books, story time in small groups with story sacks, bag books, listening to stories on the interactive screen. All pupils will have their own tailored communication 1-1 sessions, which link to their EHCP outcomes. Explore books and stories about Autumn, Bonfire night, Christmas Listen to the story ‘Tree: Seasons Come, Seasons Go’ by Britta Teckentrup being read on You Tube by several different people — see which ones your child responds to best.
Mathematics and Problem SolvingSome Activities that Alder class will be focusing on this half term will be as follows: - Mark making in snow in the light tray - Pouring with a range of pouring utensils - Fake snow - Posting leaves/flowers into boxes. - Exploring Christmas items, posting with baubles Explore posting Christmas items into boxes at home. Get some fake snow (Amazon) and explore this with your child. Use pouring utensils to encourage pouring skills. Explore cooking Autumn puddings, pouring skills, filling up cups of ingredients.
Personal DevelopmentPlay / interaction. Pupils will be paired up or working in small groups on a range of activities such as ball games, stacking games, target games, sharing toys, exploring over wedges, learning to share, tolerating being in a close space to each other. Spend time at home just playing, interacting with your child, copying and mimicking their body movements, gesture, sounds, leave a gap and space for your child to process what they have seen or heard, see if they will respond with the same sound or movement,
Physical DevelopmentAll pupils will receive daily physio, twice-weekly hydro, 1 Rebound session and daily standing frame time. All pupils will have a focused session around their own individual physical targets, which link to their PLGs/EHCP outcomes. These may involve things such as wedge work, walkers, sit to stand work, laying in prone pushing upper trunk up , exploring a frames on back, physio bench time.To build in physio, tummy time, for some to encourage reaching out to items, exploring items on their trays, sitting to stand work. Regular time wearing splints, gaiters at home.
Understanding the WorldWe will explore these key celebrations throughout this half term in lessons or as day topics – fireworks, Remembrance Day, Hanukkah and lots of Christmas celebrations. Attend a local fireworks display or buy some sparklers and light them in the garden. Attend Christingle. Visit garden centres with Christmas decorations Christmas market Go to a Christmas light switch on Take a drive out one evening to look at Christmas lights.
Expression and CreativityWe will be exploring seasons and Christmas dance sessions. In Art we will make a range of craft items linked to season such as an Alder family tree, season tree pictures, firework pictures, Christmas crafts and also exploring the religion Hanukah. Play Christmas music, do some Christmas cooking. Make Christmas cards for family and friends.
Personalised LearningThroughout the week, we will have timetabled time to do some focused sessions around pupils’ individual learning. Keys areas will be switch skills, physical development, communication and social skills.