Welcome to Cairngorm

We are a class in the 14-19 Department. We are working to complete ASDAN modules in Towards Independence, Workright, Personal Progress and Personal Social Development. Success in these modules will result in us gaining accreditations and certificates recognising our achievements and experiences.

In Literacy and Maths we follow courses set by Open Award or ASDAN modules. We study number, shape, measurement, money, time and focus on using them along with reading, writing and communication skills in as many real life situations as possible, for example in shops and cafes. As we look to our futures it is important for us to develop our independent living skills in every way and we try to take every opportunity to experience and practice these.

General Information

We ask parents and carers to return the home/school diary each day, as this will enable the class teacher to provide comments and information about your child's day in school. If there are particular things you wish to be informed about, please speak with me.

Individual Education Plan (IEPs)

This plan sets out educational targets that your child is working on for the term. There is a section in the plan which provides parents and carers with activities or tasks you can do at home to support your child's learning. Plans are updated each term and sent home.

Reading Books

All children and young people are encouraged to engage in reading and develop a love of stories. We have a wide range of reading books, sensory books and big books to support the learning styles and levels for each child. Every Friday, your child will receive a new reading book. Please encourage your child to engage with the characters and stories.

P.E.

P.E. sessions take place on alternate Wednesdays when your child will attend Litherland Sports Park to participate in activities in the Gym or outside on adapted bicycles. Please ensure suitable clothing and footwear is brought to school and that items are clearly labelled to avoid confusion.

Swimming sessions take place on alternate Fridays at The Meadows Pool in Maghull.

During our P.E. sessions we discuss the importance of keeping fit and the affect it has on our bodies. We look at ways we can keep healthy through a balanced diet and regular exercise.

Cookery

We do cookery every Tuesday afternoon. Please let us know if your child has any allergies.

Cookery focuses on independence skills and learning to cook for ourselves, we will be cooking a range of food from curry, beans on toast, pizza and meatballs.

Work Related Learning/ Enterprise

As part of supporting young people to develop their skills, your child will take part in work related learning experiences and enterprise activities on Thursdays. Enterprise helps support the students to use their numeracy and literacy skills in a different context. We complete a number of experiences in school this year we will be completing the following experiences

Summer Term

This summer term the 14-19 department has set up a 'Rowan Park Car Wash Service' as part of our World of Work learning. This runs every Thursday. Cairngorm have learnt and practiced the steps taken to wash a car including; using a sponge with soapy water, rinsing and drying parts of the car. We have all really enjoyed this session and hope to have more customers very soon!

This term we will be working very hard in Cairngorm learning about the following topics:

Numeracy - Money, Addition and Subtraction.

Literacy - Traditional Tales

Science - Habitats (Land and Sea)

Humanities - Famous buildings

Leisure and Recreation - A healthy lifestyle and balanced diet

PSHE - Drugs awareness

World of Work - Class car wash and horticulture work at a local community school.

Technology - Making gifts

Swimming

Spring Term

World of Work 

This Spring term during World of Work we have been visiting a local community garden to take part in Horticulture work alongside our Asdan modules in Work right and Towards Independence: Work Awareness. At the community garden we have been practicing our independent living skills to plant trees, plants, vegetables and build flower beds. We have used equipment such as a rake, spade and a wheel barrow to maintain the community garden on a weekly basis.  

Numeracy

This term during our Numeracy lessons we have been focusing on measurement and using our functional numeracy skills to measure time in digital and analogue. We have been focusing on 'o'clock' and 'half past' and discussed our home and class routines, times of the day and months of the year. 

Literacy

We have been working really hard during our Literacy sessions where we have taken part in the topic 'Literacy for information'. We have learnt all about reading and following instruction booklets using our cookery and numeracy skills to follow recipes and methods to make savoury and sweet foods.

Careers Education 

During our Careers Education sessions we have visited a local recruitment company in Liverpool City Centre. We had a lot of fun on this trip learning all about punctuality, correct clothing to wear, discussing our skills and having a tour around the office. 

Our Visit to CER

Autumn Term

Our Class Bakery

Cairngorm has participated in a class Bakery this Autumn Term for their World of Work Topic. We have learnt about recipes, measuring ingredients, shopping and money management. All of us are practicing the practical skills of mixing, kneading and shaping rolls and loaves. We take orders from staff and run a delivery service to the classrooms. This has been very successful this term and the pupils have worked extremely hard to run this bakery.

Horticulture

We are planning on setting up our own Horticulture area this year with help and advice from experts, one of which help us in our volunteering at a local community garden in the local area. With some luck by the summer, we will have food to sell.

Community Visits

As part of our ASDAN modules, we will be visiting shops, cafes, leisure centres, sporting venues and many other places in the community. Some of us will be attending a Travel Training course when we will learn about how to travel on public transport safely and independently. We have visited Tesco this term and have learnt how to scan and use money to pay for our snack items.

Curriculum Subjects

Other subjects we will be learning about throughout this year are:

Science

Industry and Pollution, the Solar System, Habits on Land and Sea.

Technology

Food groups and a balanced diet, Specialist clothing and costumes, making gifts for sale,

Foreign Cultures

UK Culture: Language and dialects, lifestyles, wider culture,

Creativity

Popular Music, Contemporary art, Theatre and filmmaking

Humanities

Local Community events, Landmarks, Famous buildings,

PSHE

Personal Care and presentation, using local facilities for health.