We are the Robins, and we are a mixed class of EYFS children in The Nest. There are nineteen of us in Robins who are supported by Miss Bell, Mrs Caffety, Mrs Heggety, Mrs Ambrose and Mrs Jones who help us with our learning, communication and language and social, emotional and mental health development.
Our Classroom
The Robin class has two classrooms with a number of areas where we can access learning independently, on a one to one basis and in small groups. Our classrooms have a number of spaces where we can access continuous provision independently, as well as with the support of our teachers throughout the day. We have home corners, construction and small world areas, reading areas, snack and kitchen areas, intervention rooms, state-of-the-art sensory rooms and sensory circuits, and an outdoor area with sensory swings and climbing equipment. Our classrooms have opportunities for formal teacher led learning and personalised learning. Our outdoor area provides us with opportunities to practice and learn lots of new physical skills. Our classroom gives us the opportunity to explore and learn about the world around us. It helps us with our communication skills, physical development, social development and mental health and supports our sensory and self-regulation needs.
Our Curriculum
The Robin class has a structured and supported environment where we feel secure, develop confidence and reach our full potential. Our curriculum is based around our individual needs and our targets identified in our EHCPs. We are supported to engage in a wide range of curriculum areas that allow us to make progress and develop at our own rate. In our classroom the TEACCH approach is used to help us learn. TEACCH considers all of our strengths and goals and creates a structured, personalised approach to help us thrive. Our teachers use intensive interaction strategies to support our communication skills and to develop our social communication exchanges.
Visual Aids/Makaton
In Robin class, we use visual aids (signs, symbols and objects of reference) on a daily basis to support communication, understanding and learning. We have personalised visual timetables and teachers work with us to help us transition from one activity to the next. We use ‘Now and Next’ boards to help us make choices and when we need the day breaking up into smaller segments, and we use choosing boards for many of the activities in the classroom. As well as this, our teachers use Makaton to help with our communication and understanding.
Home-school links
Parents/carers are encouraged to be involved with all aspects of their child’s education. Parent-teacher meetings are held throughout the year, and EHCP review meetings are held once a year. Parents/carers are able to communicate with staff face to face or by email. We use Seesaw to share our learning and any information parents may need.
Class Teacher: Miss Bell abell@thomasgrayprimary.co.uk
SENCOs (Miss McGaw, Miss Briscoe and Miss Bell) – sencos@thomasgrayprimary.co.uk
