Woodpecker Class

A mixture of adult led and independent learning is encouraged to allow students to gain confidence in their own knowledge and abilities. Independent living skills form a large element of the curriculum delivery to ensure students develop age appropriate functioning and aspirations.

Students have regular opportunity to sign up for particular foundation subjects to enable students to learn to take ownership of their learning. The foundation subjects are taught through the school’s termly theme, this makes the learning purposeful, practical and engaging. In science, students develop scientific enquiry through practical experiments, discussion and observation. English and Maths learning is fundamentally practical and differentiated to suit each students’ abilities and learning styles.

Students engage in reading and writing for different functional purposes such as reading and writing emails, notes, letters, instructions, lists and form filling. Interpretation and recording of activities occur through the use of ICT, symbols or traditional writing methods. Students use laptops individually, in pairs or small groups to research topic-based information to support their learning. Speaking and listening plays a huge part in all learning activities; students are given opportunities to practice skills needed to communicate with familiar and unfamiliar people through practical role play activities and real-life contexts.

Mathematic lessons focus on different strands from number and place value, using all four operations in practical situations as well as measure including the basic understanding of time and money. Students learn the value of coins and purchase items through practical activities, written problems, role play and visiting local supermarkets and shops. A practical learning style supports students to transfer learned knowledge into real life situations.

Throughout the week, individual and guided reading sessions, alongside weekly spellings, occur where the students use their phonics skills to decode. As well as opportunities to discuss texts and carry out comprehension activities. Daily or weekly interventions, such as: fine motor, physio, speech and language, reading and numeral recognition are carried out by class staff for selected students based on their needs. Students complete weekly Physical Education sessions to learn new skills, stay healthy and build understanding of team work and turn taking. Many students have their own individualised timetables which they can refer to throughout their day, to support independence and understanding.