Otters Class – EYFS and KS1

In Otters, the classroom is set up to provide a range of opportunities for different learning needs.

We typically describe the intervention as ‘Getting children ready to learn.’

Through a topic-based approach, the children work on the following:

• Communication through play activities
• Group turn taking activities
• Activities to develop concentration and attention
• Focus talks to build independence.
• IEP tasks
• Expressive and receptive language tasks
• Learning to follow instructions
• Developing social skills
• Early language building skills including phonics
• Early maths skills

Our interventions deliver a carefully structured programme of activities using evidence and researched-based approaches. These include:

• Intensive Interaction (delivered with advice and support of a speech and language therapist)
• Attention Autism
• Communication Books
• Makaton Sign
• Identiplay (play-based intervention)
• Sensory Circuits
• 1:1 and group Speech and Language Intervention (delivered by Magic Words)

Where possible, children transition back to their mainstream classes for part or all of the day.

A typical day in Otters may include:

Mornings:

• On arrival, the children have a range of independent play-based activities to help them transition into the school day.
• The children register and take part in ‘good morning’ greetings.
• There are a range of educational activities set out for the children to explore.
• Children take part in an adult-led phonics activity before moving into groups for differentiated phonics work.
• The children come together for a snack, which is also an opportunity to develop social and life skills.
• After break, the children have maths-based activities around early numbers and counting.
• The children have further opportunities for interactive play-based activities to develop their social and language skills.

Lunch:

• The children have a story or song before eating lunch.
• They eat in a quieter space, as a small group.
• After lunch, the children have a session in the Soft Play room.

Afternoons:

Afternoon activities are based around our 5 key curriculum areas:

1. Outdoor schooling
2. Independence
3. Play and Leisure
4. The World About Us
5. Physical Well-being

Through a topic-based approach, children engage in a range of opportunities to develop their key early learning skills.