Welcome to Willow

Teacher Cate Sadler-Barker
Photo of Cate Sadler-Barker

Welcome to Willow Class!

We are a semi-formal KS3 class of eight pupils aged 11 – 14. We use a wide range of multi sensory approaches to support our learning. We also use a total communication approach, to support all our learners in understanding and expressing their hopes, wishes, needs and feelings. Alongside following a wide range of curriculum subjects, we are starting to learn more about independence and personal safety, especially whilst out and about in the community.
We go out on trips every Wednesday to support this. These include visits to the supermarket to buy our daily snacks, areas where we can improve upon our fine and gross motor skills, alongside keeping healthy, public places related to our specific interests, such as animal sanctuaries and cafes. During these trips we will work on our functional literacy and maths skills, including reading labels/signs, money and other measurement skills, alongside personal safety, e.g. road crossing, stranger danger, general hazards and risks, and communication.

Willow timetable – Autumn 2 – 2025

Autumn Term 2 25/26Curriculum Information for parents
Strand and Profile Profiles in ClassLearning at home
Communication and LiteracyOur Talk4Writing text this term is ‘Old Hat’ by Emily Gravett. We will continue to immerse ourselves in lots of exciting experiences to support our learning around this book, including making our own hats and showing them off during our catwalk show. We will also try to recall some parts of the story using our ‘5 sentence story’, including working on our total communication skills. We will continue 1:1 reading and selecting books to read for pleasure in our library session. We will be looking for books on Christmas to support our work in other lessons. We will also have our daily phonics sessions, many of which will support our sensory needs. During our weekly trip we will be learning to develop our functional literacy skills by looking at signs that help us to keep safe and ones that give us information, e.g. roads signs, offers in the shops. Do you have any hats at home? Who do they belong to? What are they used for? What are they made from? Try some on. How do they feel? Which one is your favourite? All children will take a Twinkl Phonics reading book home. Please read it together and let me know when you would like to change it for another one (it is a good idea to read it a few times to encourage confidence). What signs do you see when you are out and about? How can this sign help us? Can you see any sounds when you are at home or out in the community? For example on car number plates, logos, brand names.
Mathematics and Problem SolvingWe will be working on our number skills; in particular counting up to 5 and beyond! Each lesson pupils will complete a carousel of practical activities to support their learning in these areas. During our weekly shopping trips we will work on our functional skills in this area; counting items to go into the trolley, counting the coins to put in the pay machine, reading prices etc. What can you count when you are at home or out and about. Maybe the number of carrots on your plate, or how many yellow cars you can see? What numbers can you see around the home and when out and about, e.g. door numbers, number plates? If possible please record these wonderful experiences on EfL for us all to celebrate together.
Personal DevelopmentWe will be learning about relationships, families and emotions. We will discuss different types of relationships and the characteristics that make them healthy and positive. We will then explore different types of family relationships and any emotional issues that may arise from these.Can you send/bring some photos of your family to school so we can make a family tree? Discuss who makes up your family with your family. Spend some quality time with them doing the things you enjoy.
Physical DevelopmentWe are going to be looking improving our health and fitness. During our trips on a Wednesday we will explore different exercise equipment and facilities at various play areas. At school we will using the facilities and equipment we have around us, indoors and out.What activities do you enjoy doing at home? Can you improve your fitness doing these? Do you enjoy going swimming or soft play? Can you play some games in the garden; football or tag?
Understanding the WorldIn Science we will be learning what an acid, an alkali and a neutral solution is and give everyday examples. We will also be learning about the hazards typically associated with each. We will be learning how to test for these by making our own indicators. In History We will be looking at some aspects of the life of the rich Victorians, and those living in the work house or slums. Aspects of this may include comparing clothes or food. In December there will be a focused day to explore the impact of Christianity on our relationships. We will be looking at the traditional Christmas Story, including artefacts. What acids and alkalis can you see at home? Which ones should we not touch/put in our mouths? How can we safe around the ones that can harm us? When at home take the opportunity to do your own research – this could be watching the film Oliver Twist together. When at home or in the community look out for items that are linked with the Traditional Christmas Story.
Expression and CreativityIn music we will be following the Charanga scheme and in line with our topic this half term we will be learning to sing and play the Christmas song ‘Ho Ho Ho’ by Joanna Mangona. In DT we will be exploring a range of food moulds such as ice cube trays, jelly moulds, latex bun cases etc. We will look at some of the materials found in these moulds. We will start to understand that making a product from a mould relies on materials changing states between liquid & solid forms (e.g. water freezing in a mould to make ice cubes). What are your favourite Christmas songs? Can you sing along to them? Can you clap your hands and tap your feet to the beat? What will you do to move to the music? When at home or in the community, look out for food moulds that might have been used & talk about the materials that may have been used.
Preparing for Adult Life Cooking This half term we will be going on trips to support our understanding of how to be safe when out of school. We will also be working on our English and Maths functional skills. This will include shopping for our class snacks and paying for them. We will visit playgrounds to explore different exercise equipment and improve our general fitness and learn more about how to safe when in public places. We will have the opportunity to use the Learning Kitchen on a regular basis. It will include health, safety & hygiene found within the kitchen. Life skills will include preparing self & area for cooking as well as cleaning up & tidying away. Can you help chose some health snacks when shopping? Can you help pay for them? Can you visit some playgrounds and explore some different fitness equipment. What rules do you need to follow to keep safe when out and about? When at home students can practise skills such as wiping down the kitchen surfaces; washing up, drying up, putting utensils & cutlery away – all linked with increasing independence.
Personalised Learning GoalsIn this session we will be working on our EHCP outcomes. Pupils will have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities to support their current PLGs (Personal Learning Goals). What will you choose to do? Look at your current PLGs (please ask Miss S-B if you would like a copy of these to be sent home). Which ones could you work on at home? Do you need any resources to support you with this? Please ask the adults in class for anything that you may need.
We would love to hear about anything that you have done at home and celebrate this with the class. Please email any photos to Miss S-B or pop a note in the diary.