All of our Pines classes begin the day at 9am and end at 3pm, where children can be dropped off and collected through our accessible gate which is situated at the side of the school.
Each class has an allocated lunch time which is as follows:
Dragonflies - 11.30 -12.15
Natterjacks - 11.30 -12.15
Woodpeckers - 12.15 -1pm
Foxes - 11.30 - 12.30
We love to use our amazing sensory space to help with sensory regulation, emotional well being and support our learning. We are so grateful to everyone who helped us to create this space as you will often find The Burrow to have at least one learner using the space at all times.
The Burrow has two projectors, a bubble tube, fibre optic lights, sensory boards, an infinity mirror, ball pool and a range of resources such as soft play that we can adjust when needed.
We have loved using this space individually, in small groups and with our families during our parent sessions.
We are so lucky!
Ensuring that our children within The Pines are fully and seamlessly included within our mainstream provision, and vice versa is hugely important to us as a school community.
Collaboration is key to ensuring that this happens naturally and purposefully throughout school, and so staff across school work together to ensure that children are able to access mainstream provision that is appropriate and beneficial for each individual child.
There are many ways in which this is done. For leisure and social purposes all of the children across mainstream and Pines share the same lunch hall and playground. This provides the children with the opportunities to get to know each other in a playful, fun and relaxed environment, with the support of sensitive interactions from adults if needed.
Children also enjoy taking part in lessons together - The children especially love working alongside each other within music lessons and practical science experiments. Our early years teams across Pines and Squirrels love to explore each others play rich environments, and Woodpeckers and Foxes especially enjoy baking alongside our Little Squirrels in their kitchen.
Cultural capital and enrichment experiences are also shared across our school - three of our children across The Pines have recently been elected to be on our school council. This will provide the children with a voice to make changes and improvements across our school which are important to them.
Enrichment experiences across school have included whole school well being days where we have all done yoga as a whole school and the team from cbeebies have performed the rhyming rockets show to us all. We have also enjoyed whole school visits to exciting places like the pantomime and Chester Zoo.
All of these purposeful collaborations ensure that our school continues to nurture and grow our whole school ethos of inclusion.
The Pines Curriculum Rationale
The Pines Curriculum Overview
Within The Pines we are committed to providing a developmentally appropriate and play rich curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils. Our Pines curriculum is based around the Equals Curriculum which is rich in research regarding best practice for children with Complex physical and sensory needs. This framework has been structured according to the children's individual needs and ensures access to learning opportunities for all. Our aim is to equip the children with the knowledge, skills and understanding to enable them to live as independently as possible as adults in their community. We believe that learning is a lifelong activity, which engages everyone in our school community. Working as an efficient and effective multi-disciplinary team, we aim to make our school a happy place where expectations are high and individuals are valued. The Pines strives to enrich, encourage and equip each child for their future.
The ethos of the Curriculum within The Pines is based around the Early Years Foundation Stage play rich ethos, and is delivered through embracing the following elements - Unique child; positive relationships; enabling environments. There is a strong focus throughout the curriculum on establishing positive relationships with others, self regulation and proactively exploring the world around us. The primary purpose is to reinforce prior learning and introduce new deep learning. The curriculum widens out according to the pupils cognitive profile and many concepts are revisited in greater depth. There is a child led and play rich approach to the curriculum with many areas being connected together and integrated within a theme which allows learning to be more engaging, natural and less fragmented.
Pupils within The Pines follow one or a combination of the following curriculum learning pathways. The pathways are not defined by age, but by need, learning style and stage of development. Pupils are therefore able to move flexibly between pathways at any point during their school journey.
Curriculum Pathways
Pre-Formal/Informal
Semi Formal
Formal
The Pines Pre-Formal/Informal Pathway
The Pines Semi-Formal Pathway
The Pines Formal Pathway
Please see our whole school reading page for more information, guidance and support with regards to our whole school phonics scheme, Little Wandle.
The relationships we build with our children and their families are key to the work we do here in The Pines and so feedback from our families is extremely important to us. This feedback is crucial to ensure that we continue to offer the best provision possible for our children as well as supporting their families.
Parent and Family Support
Supporting our families is a very important part of the work we do within The Pines. Please feel free to explore the following links to various services which you can access for support.
We run workshops, information days and one day special events on a regular basis throughout the year.
Provide regular information to help increase parental knowledge via social media.
We hold regular coffee mornings and craft sessions across Sefton where parents can meet, chat and get support.
We attend meetings, forums and workshops to make sure parent carers’ voices and children’s needs are being heard at all levels within health, education and social care services.
The Local Offer provides clear and accessible information about the provision Sefton Council expects to be available locally for our children and young people from 0 to 25 who have special educational needs and/or disability (SEND).
Sefton Carers Centre provides free advice and guidance, emotional and practical support, training and a range of holistic therapies for unpaid carers living in Sefton.
Financial Support for families of children with SEND.
Speech and Language UK gives parents/carers and practitioners the information they need to help children develop their speaking and understanding skills. If a child has difficulty with speaking, they may need help, or they may struggle in nursery or school. With the right help, they can develop the skills they need.
The Family Fund provides grants for a wide range of items, such as washing machines, sensory toys, family breaks, bedding, tablets, furniture, outdoor play equipment, clothing and computers. It can be a struggle financially, emotionally and physically for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, and these grants help break down many of the barriers families face, improving their quality of life and easing the additional daily pressures.
Phone: 01704 828140
Email: thepines@redgateprimary.com