Life Skills

Themes

Themes are pupil-orientated and chosen with the pupil’s needs, interests and experiences in mind. Each theme caters for the individual needs of the class; the extension caters for the more able child, while the needs of the remedial child are also met. Opportunities for creative thinking, planning and problem-solving skills, testing boundaries and encouraging risk-taking are developed. It aims to develop social skills, including leadership, negotiation, conflict management, flexibility and empathy.

This is an excellent opportunity for children to research and discover interesting facts about the world around us. Wonderful discussions are had and these lessons are a highlight for the children, allowing for practical experiments, shows, day trips as well as dress-up days.

Learning Support and Assessments

Children experiencing difficulties in emotional, social or academic areas are supported by the highly skilled and often remedially trained Clifton teachers. The team of therapists who operate on the Clifton campus work with the teachers in a supportive capacity, enhancing the ability of our teachers to understand and address individual needs within the classroom. Should a difficulty in any foundational area become evident, the teachers may ask our in-house Learning Support team to observe and assess accordingly. Children requiring support may at times attend small group support sessions with our in-house learning support therapists. These support sessions are needs-based and take place during the school day as part of the Clifton offering.

Should further intervention be necessary, parents will be contacted and a round table meeting conducted. Following the round table meeting, the school may ask for an assessment to be conducted by a relevant private practitioner. Once a test has been completed and the results confirmed, therapy is decided upon by the specialist.

Clifton has in-house remedial therapists and private on-site occupational and speech therapists as well as an educational psychologist available to the children during their school day.