Our Class Ethos

Newstead is one of our Primary Curriculum Stage 1 learning pathways. In Newstead we are following a bespoke sensory based learning curriculum. The students access most of their learning in their own classroom. Our continuous provision enables pupils to learn though play and develop their play skills. Adult-led activities are carried out either on a one-to-one basis or in small group in a separate work area. Regular opportunities for outdoor learning are also encouraged, which includes forest schools and learning in the outdoor areas. 

We are a class of 9 learners, our youngest is 4 and eldest is 11.

Each school day begins with an interactive 'Hello' session in which we share the timetable, welcome everyone to the class and identify our feelings. A creative and multi-sensory approach to learning is adopted across all subjects and is well-supported by the use of signs and symbols.  

By providing a fun, safe and engaging environment the students in Newstead are enabled to succeed and achieve.

Important class information

As part of our curriculum pathway we will be accessing learning activities outside; please send wellies, waterproofs, spare clothing to support this for the school year.

- Forest school is on a Tuesday from the start of the Spring term.

Newstead have enjoyed our Valentine’s Day activities from sensory tuff trays, to arts and crafts and dressing up in our party clothes to attend the schools Valentine’s Day disco.

During Mental Health week Newstead have enjoyed taking part in yoga, relaxing TacPac sessions, mindful colouring and learning about our emotions with the help from the film and characters in 'Inside Out'. We finished our week celebrating with a little class party which made us all feel happy.

This half term our topic is 'Let it snow'.

• On monday's we have enjoyed sensory stories on 'Kippers snow day', 'The snowman' and 'Penguins'
• On Wednesday's our focus is on reading where we are taking interest in the pictures in our stories and matching key people and events using symbols
• On Thursday our focus is on improving our fine motor skills 
• On Friday's we enjoy our TacPac sessions where we have a focus on communication

Newstead are working really hard to use their new communication boards during lunch times to request "more", "juice", "help", "open" and "finished" independently.

Newstead love our weekly visit to Forest School sessions. We enjoy splashing in the puddles, painting, fire lighting and using the hammocks.

• Newstead enjoyed taking part in a science where we are learning about the changes in winter weather and have explored the texture of ice and what happens to it when it warms up. This links to our new topic of "Let it snow!".
• We have been following social stories to understand what appropriate clothing we need to wear when we go outside to play.
• We have enjoyed getting messy in our make shift snow tray.
• We are learning about our senses and how we can explore different objects through them.

During Maths we have been learning about:

• Money: Matching coins by colour and value as well as exchanging money in a role play shop.
• Numbers: We have been working on our counting and number correspondence.
• Diving: We have share counting bears into groups and shared chocolate with our friends
• Terminology: Understanding the phrase one, lots and all gone.

As part of Beyond Bennerley Newstead have been following timetables to walk to the minibus and access the community. We have also used symbols as part of our morning routine to promote independence at handing our coats and bags up.

This morning Newstead visited Rutland Sports Centre to access their inflatables and soft play with the rest of Stage 1 as part of their Christmas trip, Beyond Bennerley and PE. We all had a great time!

This half term our topic is 'Light and Shade'. Newstead have enjoyed exploring the light box and torches with coloured overlays.

Newstead have enjoyed their weekly sensory stories related to our key texts within English. This half term we have tried different modes of transport linked with our story "The bus is for us" and then we have made our own space rockets to fly to the moon as part of our "Whatever Next!" book.

Our topic this half term is "Families and People who care for me" so far during this we topic we have:

•  learnt how to look after a baby by feeding and bathing them. 
• We have enjoying taking part in a family activity by making rice krispie cakes.

Our topic for this half term is 'Explorers'. Newstead started our topic by learning how we can use our senses to explore the world around us. We have then since been out into forest school to use our senses to look, touch and smell the various plants and trees. 

Newstead are enjoying their Attention Autism Sessions on Monday's and Friday's. They are sitting well as a class and engaging very positively.