Class Teacher: Fiona

Teaching Assistants: Chris Pat, Wendi, Kirsty S

Midday Supervisor: Kirsty Fo

A warm welcome to Hardwick Class!

Hardwick is a happy, nurturing and supportive class where every pupil is valued and celebrated for who they are. We believe that children learn best when they feel safe and supported, and we work closely with pupils, families and the wider professional team to help every child flourish. Our classroom is a place where pupils develop confidence, independence and positive relationships whilst enjoying learning that is meaningful and fun.

Our Ethos

We value every pupil as an individual, building on their strengths and interests to create learning that is engaging and tailored to their needs. Alongside academic learning, we place a strong emphasis on emotional wellbeing, supporting pupils to recognise and understand emotions through the Zones of Regulation to develop positive relationships and make safe choices.

Our Team

Our pupils are supported by a dedicated team consisting of the class teachers (Fiona main teacher, and Ianthe Mon pm, Wed pm and Fri am) and Specialist Teaching Assistants (Chris, Wendi and Kirsty), alongside a range of professionals including Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Music Therapists, Thrive Practitioners, Rebound Therapy practitioners and other specialist services. We work collaboratively to ensure every pupil receives the personalised support they need to thrive.

Communication

We use a range of multi-sensory approaches, including Widgit symbols, Makaton, Colourful Semantics, visual supports and assistive technology to help every pupil express themselves, develop understanding and access learning confidently. The classroom is a communication-friendly environment with clear routines and structured spaces that encourage pupils to explore, interact and make choices to build independence and positive relationships.

Our Curriculum

We aim to develop skills and knowledge through practical and engaging experiences within a topic-based curriculum. Personalised EHCP targets are embedded throughout everyday learning so that every child can make meaningful progress towards their individual goals. We have a strong PSHE and RSE focus to support the development of emotional wellbeing, relationships and life skills for adulthood. The Beyond Bennerley curriculum takes learning into the community to develop independence through real-life experiences and we enjoy taking learning beyond the classroom through frequent outdoor experiences to develop confidence, teamwork and understanding of the natural world.

We look forward to sharing our learning journey with you through the year.

Important information

PE: Friday morning – can send pupils in PE kit.

Beyond Bennerley Community visits:  Tuesdays – we will notify you when we are going off-site.

Forest School: Summer Term 1 – Monday afternoons

Outdoor play and learning: Send additional clothing and footwear to keep in school if possible.

Autumn 1 2026

Hardwick Class have had a lovely start to the year exploring our ‘Blast Off!’ topic. In Science, we have enjoyed investigating materials and learning about the Solar System, using Google Maps and satellite imagery to explore the Earth, Moon and other planets. We loved reading about Beegu the alien by Alexis Deacon, bringing the story to life with props and costumes before writing our own adventures for Beegu to create a class book. We used yellow foam clay to make our own Beegu models and the 2paint app to create amazing space pictures on the laptops.

Our Maths learning has focused on number skills and measuring length and height through practical, hands-on activities. We had fun jumping, throwing, making and flying paper aeroplanes and sending vehicles down ramps to measure and compare how far they travelled. In Music, we have been using our voices and body percussion to accompany space-themed stories and images, while in PE we have been developing our ball skills through a range of fun games and activities.

As part of our Beyond Bennerley learning, we have enjoyed visits to Heanor Library and Shipley Park, helping us to develop communication skills, friendships and confidence in the local community. We are looking forward to more exciting experiences when the Wonderdome Planetarium comes to school later this term and when we take part in the Erewash School Sports Partnership Sports hall event with children from other schools.

We are very proud how well the children have settled into their new class and of the enthusiasm, curiosity and enjoyment they have shown in their learning.