Learning opportunities in the ARB
Each child is unique with their own strengths, skills and talents. Every child’s individuality is celebrated in the ARB and learning is planned to engage through favourite characters or special interests as much as possible. Each child has their own learning area or workstation. Learning is planned for each child at the appropriate level. Staff are skilled at adapting learning activities to support or challenge a child as needed. Many of the children in the ARB may be using AAC to communicate eg.PECs (Picture Exchange System), coreboard, makaton, and have Speech and Language difficulties. Many have a Communication Support Plan. We work closely with the Speech and Language therapists to support the development of communication as a priority.
Much of the learning will be based in play and will gradually introduce skills needed for reading, writing and maths when the child is ready.
Life-skills
Our curriculum is a balance of developing understanding, knowledge and life-skills. We believe in supporting our pupils to be as independent and capable as possible in daily tasks such as toileting, handwashing, getting dressed, brushing hair etc. Skills in cooking and food preparation, shopping, gardening, road safety and being safe, as well as experiencing the wider community in fun and safe ways, are planned throughout the year
Inclusion:
We like to take part in as many whole school events as possible and will adapt access to suit your child if it is relevant to them and their needs. This may be assemblies, Sports Day, special events.
Sensory
Many of the children in the ARB have sensory processing disorder. We aim to give children the opportunity to meet their vestibular, proprioceptive sensory needs through bouncing, rocking, balancing, safe climbing or sand, water and messy play.
There are planned opportunities for sensory activities throughout the week. Water, sand and playdough is always available. We also take part in cooking, messy play, painting (include hand, feet painting) and have a range of different sensory exploration activities available. Outdoor learning might take place in the fields, garden or woods and we enjoy experiencing and noticing the different sensations of different types of weather.
Outdoor:
We take part in activities in our lovely grounds surrounding the school. We have our own forest area, gardens, fields, trim trail and a willow hut. Activities include collecting items linked to a theme, making potions, mud play, making natural art or instruments, making stick characters or dens. The aim is to encourage a love of the outdoors, support dressing skills through getting changed and understanding the need for appropriate clothing, learning about safety by staying with a group and learning to respect boundaries, following instructions, sensory play, social and communication skills
Sensory Room:
We have a lovely sensory room that our children have access to. All can use it as a calming sensory space or a safe space to bounce, roll and explore the senses.
Music:
We sing daily- we like traditional nursery rhymes, counting songs, Something Simple Songs, CBeebies, Woolley Vision and Singing Hands -who teach makaton while singing. We have access to many musical instruments to explore through taught sessions and busy learning.
Toileting and Personal Care:
Many of the pupils in our setting may need support with personal care and will have an Intimate Care Plan. We have a large toileting area and each child has their own drawer to store personal items. We will work with you to support toilet training where and when appropriate.
If your child needs any regular medication there is a form to sign to provide the ARB team with permission and directions on use.
Snack and Lunch
There is a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack. We all sit around the table as this is a good opportunity to practise and embed social and communication skills. The school provides fruit and bagels on a daily basis. Pupils are welcome to bring their own snack from home, bearing in mind, of course, that we are a healthy school.
School dinners are available to order through the eduspot app (link on home page of the school website) or your child can bring a packed lunch. All KS1 pupils are entitled to free school meals. Dietary requirements can be catered for, as well as any other needs your child may have. For example, some pupils may not like different types of food touching so the kitchen can serve items in separate dishes. Please talk to staff about any special requirements.
Uniform:
Please see the main school website for details on school uniform. Follow the link on the home page (see below) to order. However, this may be something that needs to be adapted according to your child’s needs. For example, some children with sensory needs may be more comfortable in joggers than school trousers.
Your child will also need a PE kit, waterproofs and wellies to be kept in school. It is always really useful to have spare clothes available in school.
School/ Home Contact:
Each child is allocated a key worker who is the named person responsible for your child. If your child travels into school in a taxi, the key worker will ring each half term as well as termly meetings with ARB teacher.
We have daily ‘Home/School’ contact book which is completed daily so you know what your child has done during the day as well as a means for getting any messages to you. This is also a way for you to get any relevant information to us each day.
Photos are uploaded onto an online Learning Journal- Evidence Me. An invite will be sent to you when your child joins the school. This is shared with you once or twice a term and is a lovely visual of what your child is doing/ learning and how they are progressing.
An annual review of the EHCP is held each year and a school report is written at the end of the school year.
Website:
Our website is an important source of information. News is updated regularly and there are many links to sources of information and help.
Under the Children tab on the home page you will find links to the ARB pages. Here you will find our Information pages details on our curriculum, links to support and our Blog which is regularly updated with our news and learning
Applying for a place:
Places in the ARB are allocated by Cornwall County Council Special Education Provision and Assessment Team as part of the EHCP process.
Please discuss with your current caseworker at Statutory SEN, Cornwall County Council and your child's current setting SENDCo.
We are very happy to talk to you with regards to any further information that you might like. Please contact us for an informal discussion on 01566 772170 and ask for Mrs Bartlett or Kathy Walsh or email ststephens@andaras.org
Finally….
We hope this has given you a taste of what is on offer at the ARB at St Stephens Community Academy. Please take a look at our website pages for more information and photos. We are very happy to answer any questions you may have and we hope you will come and see us. We would be delighted to show you around.