Welcome to Alder

Instructor - Elm Rachel Sanders
Photo of Rachel Sanders

Welcome to Alder Class!! 😃

We are a group of 7 pupils aged from 11-19 years. We have  6/7 members of staff working with us each day. We all have very high medical, physical and sensory needs. All 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 needs. Within our classroom we have own outdoor area which we access through big doubles doors from the classroom. We access this space for lessons but also we can enjoy our snack and lunches outside.  We love to get out and about in the community and mixing around the school with others, we have lots of fun and our staff members help us to feel very happy, relaxed and safe when we are with them. We enjoy activities such as trips out, Hydrotherapy, switch work, rebound therapy, sensory stories, Art, Cooking, music, sensory room sessions, massage sessions, problem solving, exploration and communication work.

Alder Timetable – Autumn Term 2 – 23/24

Autumn Term 2 23/24Curriculum Info for parents: Topic - Celebrations
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 their own individual EHCP outcomes. Communication, switch work/computer skills, intensive interaction will be focused on throughout the week on an individual basis. Pupils will also get weekly therapy sessions which involve one Rebound individual session; 1 or 2 Hydrotherapy swims dependent on need; a massage/yoga session and sensory room. Below is an outline of some of the class group sessions Alder class will be doing all 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
CreativeIn creative exploration this half term the pupils will be focusing on a different celebration each week. Below are the celebrations we will cover over the coming weeks and what creative items the pupils will have a go at making. Halloween - Batty bats- Paint splat witches face Fireworks - Firework splatter paintings, Firework printing with kitchen rolls Diwali, Holi, - Diwali paper plate- candle holders, Happy Holi- handprint card Hanukah- Star of David – collage- Handprint Menorahs- Print Happy Hanukah to stick onto picture. Chinese New Year - Handprint dragon-Blossom tree collage with tissue paper and tree template Christmas- Christmas cards, decorations, paper plate baubles, Snowman paper plate
Problem Solving- Playdough- making a Diwali lamp with battery candle - Light box- Exploring a range of coloured patterns using shaving foam mixed with bright paint- moving hands and fingers through shaving foam. - Exploring coloured bricks - Exploring a range of light up objects/light toys - Exploring laser lights with powerlink box and switch- shining onto umbrella to create firework images. - Exploring a range of Christmas items. - A frame- with hanging baubles/tinsel/bells. - Playdough- Christmas and celebration cutters - Exploring Bats / spiders in rice/ cereal. - Firework sensory tray- black messy play- underneath colourful patterned material/paper- mark making through the black messy play to create different coloured patterns. - Hanukkah playdough- using a template of candle holder- use playdough to create the candles. - Exploring different sized pumpkins. - Balloons hanging on A frame - Candles/cake silicone holders – make cakes – playdough - Spaghetti/noodles scooping into pots - Mark making in yellow and red rice in light box tray - Wooden bricks- making a Chinese style house. - Exploring inside a pumpkin - Stacking white ghost cups/tower making
Trips Thursday 2nd Nov- Lighthouse Café in Sheringham (morning trip) TBC- Possible trips in December which will be Christmas related.
Cooking/messy playIn cooking and messy play we will be making; Halloween – Pumpkin cupcakes Fireworks – Firework biscuits Diwali – Onion bhajis Hanukkah – Potato Latkes Chinese new year – Sweet and sour vegetables Christmas – Mince pies Christmas – Gingerbread men
StoriesCelebration sensory stories Peppa Pig Pumpkin Party; The Best Birthday Mole Ever Had; Fireworks Sensory Session; Kippers Birthday; Chinese New Year Poem; Christmas Stories.
Other events/ sessions Music- We will be doing a unit linked to a “Big Top Music Carnival” and will be exploring the carnival with instruments. The last 2 weeks we will focus on Christmas music
Ideas to do at home:- Explore different celebration music from around the world - Explore Christmas music - Visit a Christmas market, Christmas pantomime, Christmas town light switch on, Blickling Hall light show, Sandringham light show. - Read stories related to celebrations from your local library - Explore foods related to celebrations - Explore some messy play trays of mincemeat, fake snow, noodles, rice, box of Christmas items, - Explore a pumpkin, - Go to a fireworks display - Have some outdoor sparklers at home, with hot soup, bread or hot dogs. - Explore balloons: hang balloons on an A frame or hoist and see if your child will reach out to the balloons