Welcome to Chestnut

Teacher Shelley Hewitt
Photo of Shelley Hewitt

Chestnuts class is an informal Ks2-3 class made up of six learners.

We are working on meeting sensory needs and practising communication skills. We use a total communication approach in class.
We do a lot of Exploration in lessons and we follow the engagement model for assessment.

Chestnut timetable – Autumn 2 – 2025

Curriculum Info for Parents: Autumn Term 2 25/26
Strand and ProfileProfiles in ClassIdeas for Home
Communication and Literacy Students will be working on their individual communication targets. Working towards their individualised EHCP/PLG targets. Students will be exploring the story “Old Hat” which is part of our Talk 4 Writing curriculum. They will be taking part in the immersion stage of this story. Students will also be immersed in to a Christmas story leading up Christmas break. Students will attend the library for 1:1 reading sessions. Read the story “Old Hat” Try on different hats Explore communication/ encourage gesture and body language as communication. Read Christmas stories together.
Mathematics and Problem SolvingStudents will be following the maths schema, this will encourage them to take part in problem solving activities and encourage use of fine motor skills. Encourage your child to sequence toys, group toys, separate and position toys.
Personal DevelopmentExploration of sensory trays linked to individual interests. We will be visiting the woodland area for self-exploration with a forest school element. Encourage your child to play with sensory items of their choice. Visit the woods. Explore the forest floor, collect items etc.
Physical DevelopmentThey will be having regular visits to the Sensory Enrichment room and ball pool. They also will take part in morning sensory circuits. Try some body movement circuits at home or at the park. Encourage climbing, rolling, crawling, jumping.
Understanding the World Using are senses during cooking, cooking to theme. Creating Christmas dishes. We will be visiting the sensory room. Looking at reaction during sensory stimuli. Try some Christmas baking at home. Try relaxation sessions, with lights down low and some sensory lights.
Expression and CreativityWe will be creating art and crafts with a theme. This half term we will be linking art and crafts to Guy Fawkes, Remembrance Day, Children in Need, Hanukkah and Christmas. Encourage your child to explore different textiles and create different pictures using different textiles. Create some Christmas crafts.
Personalised LearningStudents will follow their own Targets linked to their individual needs/EHCP outcomes. Try to incorporate your child’s PLGs in to daily life.