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 – Summer term 2 – 23/24

Summer Term 2 23/24Curriculum Info for parents: Topic - Summer walks
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 1 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 session 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
CreativePupils will explore a range of creative activities linked to summer walks using a range of medium. If the weather is nice the creative session will be carried outside in the outdoor area. -Wax rubbings- walks on campus/The Patch doing wax rubbings -Collage leaf/ flower/ nature printing- Giant art printing outside/Wallpaper art -Rolling balls down ramps, foot prints, splatter printing with brushes. Make junk model Binoculars -Printing in clay Shells, leaves, twigs, flowers. -Make a model sailing boat- junk modelling
Problem Solving- Playdough- squeezing, rolling dough with hands, rolling dough with roller, creating patterns – pushing cars/vehicles/ food cutters- creating food for picnics- plastic plates. - Exploring bubbles outside- creating big and small bubbles/encourage pupils to reach out to bubbles to pop. - Wind mills/ wind socks / wind chimes- explore-see if pupils turn to look towards sound/ items spinning. - Mega blocks – Exploring different sized shapes/ colours / building shapes/towers. - Sand play – explore wet sand/dry sand/ sand wheels/ different sized containers/ different sized sand moulds and sand castles/ - Water play- exploring pouring / scooping/ water wheels/ different coloured water using food colouring to change water colour/ - Cars / Vehicles / car mats. / trains. - Exploring sealife animals in water trays Puzzles- vehicles/ food/ outdoor items.
Trips Day trips Holkham hall Hunstanton sealife centre Blickling hall. Wroxham Every Friday afternoon- walks in Sheringham local area – walking to Arcades, steam train, promenade, boating lake, play park.
PATCHExploring the patch in the summer time, exploring the sensory garden, exploring wind chimes, windmills , finding items hidden around The Patch
StoriesA range of stories over at the PATCH. Listening to stories in the outdoor sensory garden.
CookingMaking healthy snacks to have at break time on a Tuesday morning. Fruit salad, moose, sandwich, toasties etc.
Other events/ sessions / SMSC daysWhole school play- Wizard of OZ. Whole school – Pride day. Last week of summer term – sports day, Norfolk day, fun and activities- off timetable all week.
Ideas to do at home:- Go out and about in your local area on some walks - Go to different locations and explore the surroundings and environments from woods, beach, towns, see what reactions and responses your child gives. - Pack up a picnic and head out for a nice picnic at a local park. On your walks pick up different nature objects etc. pebbles, sea weed, twigs, leaves and take home to explore in trays/ create collage pictures with. - Explore stories related to walks, picnics, beach, parks.