Welcome to Caterpillar Class

Hello!

We are the Caterpillars and we hope that you enjoy sharing our journey with us here on our class page. We are a fun loving, lively and affectionate bunch of Reception and Year 1 pupils who enjoy being busy and learning new things. We learn best when taught in a sensory and hands on way and that's what our teacher and support staff do best!

Each half term we will focus and learn about different topics within our subjects, our first topic is Ourselves. This is perfect for us to continue finding out about ourselves as individuals but it's also great for our teachers to get to know us too and for us to develop relationships with our classmates. 

Our second topic after the half term break is 'Traditional Tales' so look out for lots of cross curricular work related to 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff', 'Goldilocks' and ' The Gingerbread Man'. And of course it'll begin to look a lot like Christmas! 

We will also continue to expand our communication through a mixture of verbal language, PECS and signing. What a fantastic time we are going to have!!

Keep checking back to see pictures of all the amazing things we are doing here in The Rowan Tree. 

Love The Caterpillar Class xx

'Attention Autism' was developed by specialist speech and language therapist Gina Davies. It is designed to give children with autism an irresistible invitation to learn using exciting activities and an experience worth communicating about. Some of our activities look bonkers and to onlookers we are just having fun, but there is so much learning going on - and learning should be fun! The starting point of any learning is attention. If we don't pay attention we do not process what we are seeing or hearing. If we don't pay attention we cannot effectively communicate. Attention is the key to EVERYTHING which is why these sessions are so fundamentally important to set the foundations for learning in Caterpillar class.

So what do we do?

Well, there are four stages that make up the Attention Autism activity structure, each one building on the one before to focus and sustain attention:

Stage 1 - Attention Bucket. Children have to focus their attention on the leading adult (Katy). In the bucket there are three exciting items. These include wind up toys, party poppers, silly string, flashing toys, musical toys that vibrate, bouncy balls with streamers, a whoopie cushion, bubbles - the kind of toys that make us all go 'oooooooooooh'. The children are allowed to look but NOT touch. This is important for the children to develop their focus and attention on the leading adult. The leading adult plays with the toys in an enthusiastic way, modelling words related to the toy or object. These key words are reinforced by the supporting adults and then hopefully the children.

Stage 2 - Attention Builder. This again is an activity that is adult led and not touched by children. We always call stage 2 'messy' as it usually involves splattering paint or shaving foam, sprinkling flour or popping balloons filled with all sorts of sensory media. This stage is often linked to our maths topic so we have focussed on shape and colour within our messy activity We have even made coke and mento volcanoes using different sized bottles to make a bigger explosion each time! 

Stage 3 - Interactive Game. This part of the session is aimed at shifting attention. We choose another highly motivating activity but this time children are invited one at a time to come to the front and participate whilst their friends watch and wait patiently. We call this part 'take turns' in Caterpillar class. We introduced Stage 3 four weeks ago and how your children have impressed us with their turn taking and patience! So activities have so far included climbing up a ladder to drop white paint soaked cotton wool balls on a black tray (to make snow), sitting under an umbrella whilst i poured water over them singing 'rain, rain go away...', popping confetti filled balloons from a height and playing splat the rat firing different coloured paint balls at our rat (Georgia - who did willingly volunteer!)

Stage 4 - Individual Activities. We are working towards this stage which requires children to focus and sustain attention in a group then transition shifting attention to an individual activity and then refocus on the group. As we grow and learn we will sharpen our joint attention, transferring these skills to other areas of learning.

Your children are doing fantastically well and we are extremely proud of them all! xx

Spring 2

Here are some of things we will be doing this half term:

• Literacy

Our Topic this half term is Bears. The books we will be sharing in class this half term will be 'This is the bear', 'This is the bear and the picnic lunch' and 'We're going on a bear hunt' sensory props, puppets, food and sensory trails will be used to encourage the children to engage with the stories. We also have lots of books in our reading corner and will read on a one-to-one basis with the class staff throughout the week.

• Maths

This half term we will concentrate on colours, learning about primary and secondary colours, making predictions and mixing colours to see the results. We will also continue to develop our number and shape skills in our Maths boxes. We will use maths resources and fun activities to help the children to develop their Maths skills.

• Physical Development

We will continue to use and develop our sensory circuit, the children will have the opportunity to access the circuit each day and work on their sensory processing skills and gross motor skills. Each week have a P.E. session each week, in this we will be working on improving our coordination, balance and jumping skills, as well as, practising hurdles and ball skills ready for sports day. We will also have the opportunity to attend swimming at Rowan Park every other week, building water confidence and gross motor skills.

• Understanding the World

Using our  topic we will be looking at bear habitats, looking in caves and maybe some ice and snow.

• Communication and Language

We will be looking at the ways in which we communicate and introducing objects of reference, pictures, signalong signs and Pecs where appropriate. we will continue to develop PECs skills this half term.

• Personal, Social and emotional Development

This half term we will continue to develop our skills in sharing and playing alongside our class mates. We are taking care of the things that belong to us, hanging up our coats and bags each morning. We also sign in each day to say who is in class and try to match our own names.

• Expressive Arts and Design

We will continue with our theme of Bears in all our Art work this half term, we will also have the opportunity to make crafts for Mothers day and Easter.

Spring 1

Here are some of things we will be doing this half term:

• Literacy

Our Topic this half term is the Jungle!! The books we will be sharing in class this half term will be 'Dear Zoo', 'Walking Through the Jungle' and 'The Tiger who came for tea' sensory props, puppets and food will be used to encourage the children to engage with the stories. We also have lots of books in our reading corner and will read on a one-to-one basis with the class staff throughout the week.

• Maths

This half term we will concentrate on shapes, exploring 2D and 3D shapes, making shape pictures and matching shapes. We will also continue to develop our number skills in our Maths boxes. We will use maths resources and fun activities to help the children to develop their Maths skills.

• Physical Development

This half term we have also introduced a sensory circuit, the children will have the opportunity to access the circuit each day and work on their sensory processing skills and gross motor skills. Each week have a P.E. session each week, in this we will be working on improving our coordination, balance and jumping skills, as well as, rolling, throwing and catching balls.

• Understanding the World

Using our  topic we will be looking the jungle, exploring the things we would find in the jungle and maybe even making our own jungle.

• Communication and Language

We will be looking at the ways in which we communicate and introducing objects of reference, pictures, signalong signs and Pecs where appropriate. we will continue to develop PECs skills this half term.

In addition, this half term we will be starting our Attention Autism sessions. This will help focus our joint attention skills and support language development and acquisition. During these sessions we offer an irresistible invitation to learn and they are probably THE most exciting - and very, VERY messy - sessions of our week!

• Personal, Social and emotional Development

This half term we will continue to develop our skills in sharing and playing alongside our class mates. We are taking care of the things that belong to us, hanging up our coats and bags each morning. We also sign in each day to say who is in class, try to match our own names and begin to recognise and name photographs of our friends.

• Expressive Arts and Design

We will continue with our theme of The Jungle our Art work making animals and jungle props. We may also finish the half term with some valentines crafts.

Autumn 2

Here are some of things we will be doing this half term:

• Literacy

The books we will be sharing in class this half term will be 'The three Billy Goats Gruff', 'Goldilocks and the three Bears' and 'The Gingerbread man'  we will finish this half term with the fun story 'Father Christmas needs a wee'! sensory props, puppets and food will be used to encourage the children to engage with the stories. We also have lots of books in our reading corner and will read on a one-to-one basis with the class staff throughout the week.

• Maths

This half term we will concentrate on number skills, matching numbers using concrete and abstract resources, matching number words to numbers and lots of counting. We will use maths resources and fun activities to help the children to develop their Maths skills.

• Physical Development

This half term we have also introduced a sensory circuit, the children will have the opportunity to access the circuit each day and work on their sensory processing skills and gross motor skills. Each week have a P.E. session each week, in this we will be working on improving our coordination, balance and jumping skills, as well as, rolling, throwing and catching balls.

• Understanding the World

Using our  topic we will be looking at traditional tales this half term, making porridge for the bears and Gingerbread men.

• Communication and Language

We will be looking at the ways in which we communicate and introducing objects of reference, pictures, Signalong signs and PECS where appropriate. we will continue to develop PECs skills this half term.

• Personal, Social and emotional Development

This half term we will be looking at developing our skills in sharing and playing alongside our class mates. We will also be learning our class routine and learning with our class mates in a group. 

• Expressive Arts and Design

We will continue with our theme of Traditional tales and our Art work will represent some of the characters from the stories. We will also be busy making a school calendar and lots of Christmas crafts

Here are some of things we will be doing this half term:

• Literacy

The books we will be sharing in class this half term will be 'The Toys Party', 'Head to Toe' and 'Part of the Party' sensory props, puppets and food will be used to encourage the children to engage with the stories. We also have lots of books in our reading corner and will read on a one-to-one basis with the class staff throughout the week.

• Maths

We will use maths resources and fun activities to help the children to develop their maths skills.

• Physical Development

Each week have a P.E. session each week, in this we will be working on improving our coordination, balance and jumping skills, as well as, rolling, throwing and catching balls.

• Understanding the World

Using our  topic we will be looking at Ourselves, the parts of our bodies and the things we like or don't like. We will be making faces from different cooking ingredients each week!

• Communication and Language

We will be looking at the ways in which we communicate and introducing objects of reference, pictures, signalong signs and Pecs where appropriate.

• Personal, Social and emotional Development

This half term we will be looking at developing our skills in sharing and playing alongside our class mates. We will also be learning our class routine and learning with our class mates in a group. 

• Expressive Arts and Design

We will continue with our theme of Ourselves and use our bodies to complete some amazing art work. Hand prints and footprints will be part of our Art work, as well as, using different materials.

General Information

Home School Dairies

We ask families and carers to return the home / school diary each day, as this will enable the class staff 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 the class teacher.

Individual Education Plans (IEP’s)

These set out the priority educational targets that your child is working on for the term. IEPs are updated each term and sent home. If there is anything that you would particularly like us to working on please just let us know.

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 and fill in the reading record to let your child's class staff know how the have gotten on.

Magic Moment Books

Your child will also be sent home with a Magic Moments Book. This is an exciting way to share all the wonderful things that your child does at home. Its also a way to record any special moments, anything that your child does for the first time and anything that they enjoy doing. We would also love it if you could send the book back in at the end of a half term or after a holiday so that we could share your child's amazing achievements.

Snack and Cookery Money

We kindly request that you send in £2 a week. This will go towards snack, cookery ingredients and sensory items (we use a lot of these) that we use each week.