3F

3F is one of our four KS3 classes. There are six students within the class – all six boys are aged between 11-14. We are part of Pathway 1 within the Academy. There are 4 members of staff in 3F: Daniel Lee (Class Teacher), Helen Hadley (Class Teacher), Joe Barlow (TA), Beverley Verney (TA: Tues,  Fri) and Angie Potter (TA: Mon, Wed, Thurs).

All learners within the class have a range of needs including, ASD, ADHD, and other learning needs, which may inhibit their social, personal, and independent development skills. Some of the students have limited verbal communication skills and find social interactions difficult, in this case we may liaise with the speech and language therapist to support this. Some students in 3F also have sensory needs and we liaise with the occupational therapist to support this where necessary. We also liaise with other professionals where appropriate such as physiotherapists.

The children access most of the curriculum in their own classroom space, but full advantage is also taken of the Academy facilities including the sensory studio, kitchen, hall, soft play, and the sensory room. We follow a bespoke curriculum which is adapted to suit each of our varied individual needs. Wherever possible we participate in group activities but much of our learning is completed on an individual basis with support from our staff. We love the outdoors and wherever possible we take our learning outside the classroom. It is hoped that through the range of skills we learn through our individualised curriculum, we will be able to transfer these skills to a variety of environments both in and outside of the Academy.

A creative and multi-sensory approach to learning is adopted across all subjects supported using signs and symbols. The class particularly enjoy our stories in English and lots of interactive Maths where we make great use of our interactive whiteboard. 3F focuses on developing reading and communication skills in a way that suits our individual needs, this is reinforced by the use of visual and interactive methods. We are now two years into our academy wide phonics scheme which is delivered daily and is proving to be very effective throughout the academy. 

We follow a Preparing for Adulthood curriculum which develops skills, knowledge and understanding within Employment, Community, Independence and Health. It is hoped that through the range of skills we learn through our curriculum that we will be able to again transfer these skills to a variety of environments both in and outside of the Academy.

Communication between home and the Academy is especially important. Students’ planners are checked each morning and a note written from the Academy every day.  If a parent requests a phone call about an issue, then we endeavour to make that the same day, where possible. We also like to use class Dojo for communication and to celebrate what the students are working on.

In 3F we have high expectations but we enjoy using a sensory approach using concrete resources and providing opportunities for self-explorative learning in order to make our experience at school as engaging as possible.