Puffin Group

Our Teacher: Zoe Williams

Puffin Group learn each morning and all day on a Thursday in Puffin class and are taught by Zoe Williams. In the afternoon the Puffin pupils transition into their key stage classes.

The learning activities are carefully planned and run by Zoe, our Multi-Sensory-Impairment (MSI) specialist. Puffin Class is for learners who benefit from an immersive, creative multi-sensory and total communication approach to curriculum delivery due to an impairment in more than one of their senses. Hearing and sight are the primary means of gaining information from the environment, particularly that beyond arm’s reach.
Pupils with MSI are supported to interact with, and understand, the world around them by developing strategies for learning, using information gained through senses such as touch and smell to supplement information usually gained from hearing or sight.

The learning activities and experiences focus on communication and exploration, using resources and strategies that stimulate multiple senses; this enables learners who have different lead senses to make links between experiences, and develop an ability over time, to understand, anticipate and control the events affecting them.
Regular focus sessions across the week and in differing environments intend to provide key experiences to support generalisation of concepts, and meaningful experiences on which to build.

Pupils engage in a variety of activities across the week which include Music and Movement, Communication groups, Body Awareness sessions, Waking the Senses, Music, Sensory Stories, Story Massage, Spinning Tower, Sensory Exploration.

Pupils’ physical management programmes are prioritised at all times; staff carefully plan optimal positioning for each pupil and activity ensuring all pupils are ready for learning and involved in all activities.