Resource Base - Pine Class

What a fantastic first term it has been for our very first Pine Class! We are incredibly proud of how well the children have settled into school life and embraced all the new experiences that come with being part of our school community.

Throughout the term, the children have shown increasing confidence in separating from parents and carers, transitioning between activities, and expressing their needs. They have worked hard to learn school routines and have become more familiar with the structure of the school day, helping them to feel happy, secure, and ready to learn.

A key focus this term has been developing listening, communication, and interaction skills. It has been wonderful to see all of the children becoming more confident when communicating with staff and their peers, building positive relationships and enjoying learning alongside one another.

As part of our learning about ‘How have I changed?’ the children loved looking at photographs of themselves and their classmates as babies. They enjoyed discussing what babies needs and how they have changed and grown over time. We have certainly seen this growth continue since starting school, with children developing greater independence by organising their own belongings and tidying up.

The children have also been developing important sharing and turn-taking skills through both playful learning opportunities and structured activities. One particular favourite was playing Ring o' Ring o' Roses together, which encouraged cooperation, communication, and lots of laughter!

Knowing how much the children love animals, we used this interest to support the development of early mark-making, reading and number skills. We have all enjoyed drawing many animals and faces.

This term, the children have responded really well to our Senseology sessions and sensory circuits, enthusiastically exploring a range of sensory experiences. It has also been lovely to see their confidence develop outdoors. Over the term, the children became increasingly confident using the play equipment and, by the end of the term, were happily enjoying playtimes alongside other classes on the playground.

Another highlight has been our visits to the woods. The children loved exploring the natural environment and discovering new things.

A particular highlight of the term was welcoming parents and carers into Pine Class for our Harvest Stay and Play session. The children thoroughly enjoyed making scarecrow faces with their families and were proud to share their Makaton skills and singing. Parents also joined us for snack time and had the opportunity to see how we use core boards to support and develop communication throughout the day.

We are extremely proud of all the progress the children have made in settling into Pine Class. It has been a wonderful start to the school year, and we look forward to supporting their continued growth, confidence, and learning next term.