Welcome to Chestnut

Teacher - Chestnut/Staff Governor Samantha Webster

Date of Appointment: 14/11/2016, 4 year term of office
Appointed via Staff Ballot
Photo of Samantha Webster

Chestnut is a class of 8 students with diverse needs and abilities whom are supported by 4 members of staff, we largely use symbols and signalong in order to communicate our needs, choices and feelings.

Chestnut class take a holistic approach to learning by following a topic based curriculum, where each subject is tailored to the individuals learning needs, thriving on routine and consistency, this approach enables learning to be teacher-led as well as child initiated.

Class activities are differentiated for each individual, ensuring that they are engaging and motivating to the individual child. Students particularly enjoy activities that are ‘hands on’ which relate to everyday life skills and promoting independence.

Spring Term 2 Timetable

Curriculum Info for parents: Spring Term 2 2020 Chestnut topic this half term is Space. Each week we will explore a new story related to Space. During the week we will engage in a number of activities that are topic related. Your child will be encouraged and supported to explore and engage in each of these activities. Each week your child will bring home information on their individual learning targets, individual targets may change weekly or in line with the topic, as and when experienced or consolidated. Please do feel free to explore these at home, it would be great to hear about your child’s experiences via their home School book. This holistic approach to learning will allow your child to progress at a pace that is suitable to their individual needs and abilities within a rich and enabling environment. Below is an outline of some of the activities on offer.
Subject
MathsWe will be - Making sets of stars/planets(addition and subtraction) - Recognising most/least - Using Ordinal numbers-planet sequencing. - Exploring new topic related Number songs - Planet/spaceship size ordering - Sorting and Classifying by size/colour/shape - Sharing out objects such as resources - Exploring Positional language - Using non-standard measurements, comparing sizes of planets or rockets - Identifying and describing properties of 2D and 3D shapes - Exploring the Phases of the moon-in 1/2 or 1/4
EnglishDaily story time, reading comprehension, exploring what we have heard/read, discussing characters, phonic recognition.
Phonic ProgrammeWe will follow the read write Inc. phonics programme, as this will enable us to explore our previous phonic knowledge, our pencil control, listening and speaking skills as well as our signalong.
Focussed exploration and investigationChanges and anticipation-cause and effect. This will also include sensory play, sand/water tray, musical instruments. Activities such as- Science - Balloon rockets - Moon sand - Moon rocks Cooking - Rock cakes - Star biscuits - Planet cookies.
Fine motor skills developmentPencil control, shoebox tasks, hand eye co-ordination activities, puzzles, which are topic related-These activities will be closely linked to our independence skills and our creative activities.
Creative (Art, Craft and DT)Creative (Art, Craft and DT)-We will be making he following - - Moon footprints - Marble art planets - Planet sun catches - Cardboard tube rockets - Space/galaxy bottles - Tinfoil moons.
Communication/intensive interactionwe will be learning topic related words/signs and symbols such as space, fly, rocket, astronauts, planets, earth, sun and moon-working alongside children’s individual SALT programmes
Role play areaSpace rocket/station, role playing as astronaut, exploring different planets-sizes/colours, using our imaginantions to fly to the moon, experiencing social interactions and appropriate behaviour, modelled by supporting staff
StoriesHere is a list of stories we will explore this half term- - Here we are-Oliver Jeffers - On the way back- Oliver Jeffers - Whatever next- Jill Murphy - ‘Back to earth with a bump-Ebook Twinkl - Aliens love underpants-Claire Freedman Activities will be as follows, each activity linked to the book/story of the week- there will be a carousel of 3 activities each session.
Profiles & Ideas for HomeEncourage your son/daughter to take part in activities that they enjoy which will support independence and the exploration of life skills, Please feel free to explore individual plans that you have at home such as EHCPs, SALT reports, or enjoy reading/sharing a story/book with your son/daughter.