Woodpecker

Hello from everyone in Woodpecker Class. We are seven pupils and five staff members and we all love to have Fun Learning together.We would like to tell you some of the activities we do and will be doing during the school year. Woodpeckers will explore the Autumn, Winter, Spring & Summer themes and follow the pre-formal curriculum.

We work hard on our individual learning journeys and shared goals throughout the school day.

My Body

Some of us love to walk with our pacers delivering messages, others practicing using our training stairs, finding our way around the classroom and practice stepping. We have our own physio & Move programs .Some of us use the hydrotherapy, others go swimming with Kingfisher class in the local leisure pool.Some of us use our standing jackets to walk with less assistance and dance if we want to.

My Thinking

We explore the different items and feely substances (sensory snow and pumpkin gloop)in our new sensory circle table. Woodpeckers’ visit both the lights room and new soft play area, which make our shared goals and individual programs more fun. Activities are planned and staff partners allow us to experience, explore and use all of our senses.

We all enjoy using the smart board with touch and switch. Some of the favourite games are www.helpkidzlearn big bang, splat the clown and five little firefighters. We have a selection of switch adapted toys and items such footspas and fans with which we learn to control and use independently.

My communication continues throughout the day.

We use total communication and the systems which support us included PECS, PODD, photo object exchange , sign – along and on –body signing .This may be supported by Big Mack and 4 Talk AAC which can be recorded onto and we can contribute by pressing to give our message, instruction , wish or yes or no .Wood peckers are given lots of choices and learning opportunities throughout the day .

Me & My community

We are a valued part of the Five Acre Wood Community. We have a representative on the school council who has been part of the interviewing process for staff. We are part of assemblies and performances such as the Nativity and Harvest.   We experience whole school days’, for example super hero day and harvest, dressing up throughout the year and look forward to Woodstock in the summer. We will have trips out into the community during the year .Our buddy class Holly join us for sensory stories and we have focus groups with Sparrow class weekly and there are clubs for everyone on Friday.We play outside in the playground with Kingfisher when the weather permits and in the sensory garden.

My independence

Each Day holds opportunities us to focus on individual skills and targets. Time is given to practice my skills these might be in feeding and drinking as independently as possible or investigating and learning through independent play or within personal care.

We all hope that this gives you a snapshot of our school week and how our learning can be fun and rewarding for woodpecker class Pupils &Staff .