The Green Class Curriculum is a bespoke curriculum, which focuses on the development of the children’s speech, joint attention and emotional regulation. The children also access the mainstream curriculum with a high level of adult support.
The curriculum is personalised for each child and is designed to meet individual needs. The approach we use in the Autumn Term is centred around settling the children into the new environment and familiarising them with the routine and structure.
Use of Symbols
We have introduced the use of symbols, specifically Visual Timetables. The children check their timetable during each transition and remove their symbol and travel with it to their destination. When they reach their destination they post the symbol in a plastic wallet. All of our symbols have photographs of the child’s specific next step/destination.
Sensory Circuits
All of the children have OT at the beginning of the session to improve their core strength but also to help with emotional regulation and get them ready for learning.
Group Time
This term during group time we have introduced Attention Autism activities. This is an adult directed group using motivating objects, to develop eye gaze, initiation skills and imitation skills. The purpose of this group is to develop joint attention and focus on another person, the building blocks of speech and communication.
We have also introduced ‘Hello Activities’ which involve singing ‘hello’ to each individual child and encouraging them to respond. We also ask them to put their name on a board and begin to encourage them to find their own name.
Snack Time
The purpose of our snack time is to encourage communication and to help the children learn to make choices and communicate those. We find the foods that motivate the children and encourage them to ask for them. we only give small pieces so that we can encourage as many communicative exchanges as possible. We have also begun to introduce PECS for some children.
Play Skills
The staff in Green Class have many years SEN and EYFS experience and work with children to improve their play skills. This involves modelling and scaffolding play to develop it and move the children on. This is very beneficial because we know that children in the early years access their learning through play. We work hard to encourage the children to take risks with new experiences, in a supportive and structured way.
Speech and Language Resources
Gina Davis – ideas for fun attention activities
OT Resources
Sensory Circuit Activity Ideas
Green Class Provision – Information Page