Week 1

This week, we welcomed the pupils into Amber Class. We have been spending time getting to know each other and helping the children explore the environment and get to know new staff and peers.

We introduced the class to their new timetable, established daily Circle Time, and started building our new routines together.

In our Inquiry sessions, we began exploring the Great Fire of London through engaging songs and sensory activities.

For Music, the pupils enjoyed choosing between shakers, claves, and bells, making lots of noise as they played along to different songs!

We worked on our gross motor skills through movement time in the playground, the Soft Play room and the Zen Den.

During Independent Learning time, everyone worked hard on their personalised individual targets.

We spent time outdoors developing our social interactions in the playground and enjoyed sharing both daily Story Time and a rich sensory story.

Week 2 

This week, Amber Class have continued settling into our new routines and building strong connections with staff and peers.  We progressed our Inquiry topic on the Great Fire of London, shifting our focus to water and how the fire was put out through hands-on water play, painting, and immersive sensory activities accompanied by engaging songs.

We also celebrated the amazing work of our emergency services, exploring the roles of the police, paramedics, and firefighters through lively songs and interactive sensory experiences.

In Music, the pupils continued exploring rhythm by choosing between shakers, claves, and bells, delighting in making plenty of noise as they played along to a variety of tunes!

We continued developing our gross motor skills and physical regulation with energetic movement sessions in the playground, the Soft Play room, and the Zen Den.

We were excited to begin our weekly sessions in the hydrotherapy pool, where the pupils thoroughly enjoyed the calming immersion of Liquid Listening.

During Independent Learning time, everyone showed brilliant focus while working toward their personalised individual targets.

We enjoyed further outdoor play to foster social interactions and turn-taking, and wrapped up our days sharing engaging daily Story Time and a sensory story.

Week 3

This week, Amber Class has continued to do well within our established routines, demonstrating growing confidence across all our daily activities, including Circle Time sessions, music, story time, library and outdoor play.

We deepened our Inquiry learning on the Great Fire of London, shifting our focus to how materials change and are used to meet people's needs. The children really enjoyed exploring smoke and ash through their senses, investigating a variety of smells, textures, fabrics, and materials. A highlight of the week was experiencing the water mist machine and getting creative with ash-and-paint artwork!

In our physical development and sensory sessions, the pupils made fantastic progress:

• Doh Disco & Fine Motor: The children did well during Doh Disco also having a go at using tools to squeeze and shape playdough.

• ICT & Cause and Effect: Everyone showed some interest and control during switch work, successfully activating and operating various interactive toys and objects.

• Sensology & Cooking: Sensory exploration continued as the pupils investigated materials in Sensology and had a wonderful, hands-on time making delicious macaroons during cooking.

• Forest School: The class had a fantastic time exploring the natural environment with supportive guidance from staff.

• During Independent Learning time, the pupils continued to work hard on their personalised individual targets.

Week 4

This week, Amber Class has continued to settle happily into our regular routines, showing growing comfort and familiarity with staff during daily Circle Time and structured sessions.

In our Inquiry learning, we explored Changing our World: Switches and Circuits (How creativity and innovation lead to change). The children did brilliantly work with cause-and-effect, enjoying the immediate multi-sensory feedback of light-up activities and activating interactive switches.

We also shared a lovely selection of physical, cultural, and sensory experiences this week:

• Cultural Exploration: We marked Mexican Independence Day, with the pupils especially enjoying the vibrant rhythms and sensory stimulation of traditional Mexican music.

• Movement & Action: The children engaged wonderfully with Write Dance and action songs, joining in with some of the physical movements to support rhythm, body awareness, and gross motor engagement.

• Makaton: The pupils showed interest during our Makaton signing sessions, supporting functional communication and connection.

• Hydrotherapy: In the pool, we continued our gentle Liquid Listening sessions to promote relaxation and sensory regulation.

• Sensory Spaces: We made the most of the lovely weather in the outdoor areas, alongside calming and physical sessions in the library, Rebound, Soft Play, and the Zen Den.

During Independent Learning time, the pupils continued to focus well on their personalised individual sensory and targets.

Week 5

This week, Amber Class has continued to engage well with their routines, taking part in a range of sensory and physical activities.

In our Inquiry learning, we explored Making the Connections: Conductors and Insulators (How materials change and are used to meet people’s needs). The pupils experienced different textures and temperatures by feeling cold metal spoons in ice, searching for shiny objects in dry rice, and painting onto foil. They also explored softer materials like fabrics and playdough to wrap around the cold metals.

We also enjoyed several seasonal and outdoor experiences this week:

• Autumn Equinox: The children explored autumn through their senses, taking in the warm lights, colours, and autumn leaves.

• Forest School: Outdoors, the pupils enjoyed time in the mud kitchen, water play, relaxing on the hammock and swing, and playing with the fallen leaves.

• Hydrotherapy: In the hydro pool, the children continued to enjoy their weekly Liquid Listening sessions.

• Parents' Evening: It was so lovely to meet with you all during our Parents' Evening sessions, both in person and virtually. I really appreciate the time you took to speak with me, and it was wonderful to work together as we update the children's individual targets for Terms 2 and 3.

• During Independent Learning, the pupils have been working hard and continued to spend time working on their current personalised targets.