Welcome to Rowan

Teacher - Rowan Victoria Gotts
Photo of Victoria Gotts

Welcome to Rowan!

We are a lovely class of 6 pupils. We have 6 adults supporting us each day.

We love a bit of silliness and fun!

In Rowan class we are working within the Engagement Model.  We follow a very multi sensory, topic based curriculum, focusing on the 5 areas of engagement (exploration, realisation, anticipation, persistence and initiation). We do lots of sensory stories, music, communication work, exploring and fine motor skills activities to help us make progress with our own individual EHCP outcomes.  We use a total communication approach including on body signing, photos, symbols and Objects of Reference. We also work hard on our physical skills in our physio sessions, weekly rebound and twice weekly hydrotherapy.

Rowan Timetable – Autumn Term 2 – 23/24

 

 

Curriculum Information for parentsAutumn Term 2 23/24Topic - Celebrations
This half term we will be exploring activities linked to a different celebration each week.Week beginning 30th October - Halloween Week beginning 6th November - Fireworks/Bonfire/Guy Fawkes Week beginning 13th November - Diwali Week beginning 20th November - Thanksgiving Week beginning 27th November - Hannukah 4th – 20th of December - Christmas
SubjectProfilesIdeas for home
CommunicationWe will be working on personalised activities linked to our EHCP and SaLT (Speech and Language Therapy) outcomes.You could encourage vocal sounds with a ‘ready, steady, go’ game. Say ‘ready, steady…’ then pause and wait for your child to vocalise before saying ‘go!’ and pushing a car/rolling a ball…
CookingOn alternate weeks, we will be cooking dishes linked to our celebrations, including pumpkin soup and Diwali sweets.You could make some Christmassy Peppermint Creams: Mix together 400g of icing sugar, 1 tablespoon of condensed milk, 2 tablespoons of water and 1-2 teaspoons of peppermint flavouring. Roll it out and cut into rounds. Leave to harden. Melt some chocolate to dip them in and leave to set.
Problem Solving and ExplorationEach week we will be exploring play dough, messy play and sensory play linked to the focus celebration, for example pumpkins and spaghetti ‘worms’ for Halloween and coloured rice and spices for Diwali. We will be working on our fine motor skills and encountering different size, shape and quantity of objects. When getting ready to decorate for Christmas, you could explore tinsel and baubles with your child.
Stories and BooksWe will be reading a range of books together in the library each week, also doing 1-1. reading with each pupil.You could visit your local library to choose some books/story sacks to borrow.
Phonics/ listeningWe will be working on our listening skills in one-to-one and small group sessions.You could try using objects like saucepans, spoons and tins to make firework sounds. Does your child respond to the sounds you make? Will they join in with making sounds together with your help? Can they make some sounds independently?
Orientation, Movement and Mobility - Physio We will practise our physical skills using walkers, A frames, reaching out and exploring or moving ourselves around the classroom and school. We will be doing hydrotherapy, rebound therapy and physio stretches and exercises. You could do some physio exercises with your child at home. Write a note in the home/school book if you would like a copy of the physio exercises we do with your child in school.
ICTWe will be using switches, iPads, touch screen and the Interactive Floor to work on our cause and effect skills. You could see if you can download a cause and effect ‘fireworks’ app onto a phone or tablet (for example Sights and Sounds: Fireworks). Encourage your child to touch the screen to cause a firework explosion.
CreativeWe will be theming our art around the different celebrations. You could make a finger paint Christmas card with your child
Social and EmotionalWe will be doing Tacpac massage each week. ‘Tacpac draws together touch and music to create a structured half hour of sensory communication between two people’ (Tacpac website). You could put some calm, quiet music on and give your child a hand or foot massage