Skip to content ↓

School Based Provision - Otter Class Information

Otters Class – EYFS and KS1

In Otters, the classroom is set up to provide a range of opportunities for different learning needs.

We typically describe the intervention as ‘Getting children ready to learn.’

Through a topic-based approach, the children work on the following:

  • Communication through play activities
  • Group turn taking activities
  • Activities to develop concentration and attention
  • Focus talks to build independence.
  • IEP tasks
  • Expressive and receptive language tasks
  • Learning to follow instructions
  • Developing social skills
  • Early language building skills including phonics
  • Early maths skills

Our interventions deliver a carefully structured programme of activities using evidence and researched-based approaches. These include:

  • Intensive Interaction (delivered with advice and support of a speech and language therapist)
  • Attention Autism
  • Communication Books
  • Makaton Sign
  • Identiplay (play-based intervention)
  • Sensory Circuits
  • 1:1 and group Speech and Language Intervention (delivered by Magic Words)

Where possible, children transition back to their mainstream classes for part or all of the day.

A typical day in Otters may include:

Mornings:
  • On arrival, the children have a range of independent play-based activities to help them transition into the school day.
  • The children register and take part in ‘good morning’ greetings.
  • There are a range of educational activities set out for the children to explore.
  • Children take part in an adult-led phonics activity before moving into groups for differentiated phonics work.
  • The children come together for a snack, which is also an opportunity to develop social and life skills.
  • After break, the children have maths-based activities around early numbers and counting.
  • The children have further opportunities for interactive play-based activities to develop their social and language skills.
Lunch:
  • The children have a story or song before eating lunch.
  • They eat in a quieter space, as a small group.
  • After lunch, the children have a session in the Soft Play room.

Afternoons:

Afternoon activities are based around our 5 key curriculum areas:

  1. Outdoor schooling
  2. Independence
  3. Play and Leisure
  4. The World About Us
  5. Physical Well-being

Through a topic-based approach, children engage in a range of opportunities to develop their key early learning skills.

 

Otters Class

Our teachers are Miss McGrath and Mrs Bale

*****

Our teaching assistants are Mrs Khanom and Mrs Avram

Here's what we'll be covering this term in Otters:

Theme

Our theme for this half-term is “On the move”.

English

This term in English we are looking at Traditional stories and Rhymes. Our chosen book is ‘We’re going on a bear hunt’ by Michael Rosen. We start every lesson using our choice boards to read the book and answer blanks questions.

 

Maths

   

This half-term we will be continuing to focus on numbers and using and applying within 10. Every lesson starts with a counting song. We want the children to understand the value of a number, so some of the children will explore numbers in ‘messy maths’.  Other children will be learning to subitise to ten, will look at 1 more or less than a number, continue with addition and subtraction and begin number bonds to 10.  We will also revisit shapes to embed their previous learning.

PSHE

In PSHE, we will be focusing on healthy living – food and exercise. We will be trying different fruits and vegetables and incorporating food into different lessons. We will be looking at what happens to our bodies when we exercise.

Topics that we will be covering across the half-term

Science – Our topic is ‘moving and growing’. We will be looking at plants and growing flowers and fruit or vegetables.

DT – We will be making different food dishes containing fruits and vegetables.

RE – We will be focusing on respecting others - friendships.

PE

We have PE every Wednesday and Friday

In PE, we will be focusing on movement – different ways to move based on our book bear hunt.

All children should have the correct PE kit (as per the school guidelines). All clothes should be labelled to ensure that they can be returned to the correct child if they are mislaid. No earrings or jewellery are to be worn on PE days.

Homework

Please practice the weekly core words – posted on dojo and use your Core word boards at home.

Some children will also bring home reading books.

Planned Trips

There are no planned trips

Dates for your diary

Please look at Dojo every day for all the exciting activities and events that are being planned for your children.

Cookie Policy