A huge welcome to the Shooting Stars class.

At Underwood West Academy we are passionate about promoting inclusion for children with Special Educational Needs. In the Shooting Stars class our aim is to create a calm, happy and structured environment in which children feel secure and can develop their skills. As well as developing their academic competence, a major focus is teaching social communication, emotional regulation, self care and independence skills.

Shooting Stars Staff

Teacher - Miss Capewell

Teaching Assistant - Mrs Giffiths

Teaching Assistant - Mrs Notts

Teaching Assistant- Miss Clarridge

The room

The room is mindfully divided into four distinct zones. Our primary teaching area features an interactive whiteboard and horseshoe table, designed to maximize enagagement during our group work. This versatile space serves as our central gathering hub, where the children come togther daily for circle time, short structured engaging lessons and attention autism bucket time sessions. Across from this is our snack and lunch area this is used to eat but also promote independence,fine motor skills, social communication and healthy choices. We incredibly fortunate to feature a dedicated sensory circuit area within our romm this consist of a trampoline,a spinning chair,a peanut roller, a dark tent and soft play. Our main classroom is thoughtfully designed around the elements of the Early Years Foundation Stage ( EYFS) continous provision, with a role play, construction, small world, mark making, maths, a reading den and sensory table. This is to ensure the children have rich, purposeful learning opportunities throughout the day. Right next to our Shooting Stars room we have a sensory room which is calm space used with regulation. Outside we have our very own play area that is under cover, this features a water table and a sit in sandpit.The environment constantly adapting to meet the needs of the children and promote their individual development.

Our routine

We use a visual timetable to structure the whole day. This consists of welcome time, Monster Phonics, snack, outside play, sensory story/Talk For Writing, Bucket time, maths, dough disco/handwriting , sensory circuits and physical education sessions. This day is complimented with ‘sensory breaks’ throughout. The curriculum is bespoke to meet the variety of need in the class.

Teaching staff also deliver Speech and Language targets under the guidance of the SALT and physio programmes as specified in individual children’s EHCPs.

Supporting communication

Our environment is supported by the widgit system which uses pictures and words to aid communication.  We use a core word approach to focus on specific functional first words that the children need to communicate. We do this through our stories and our bucket time and through activities provided throughout the day.

Assessment

Academic, social and behavioural targets are set for each child who has a Special Educational Needs Plan (SEN) or who has an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) and these targets are reviewed regularly and shared with the child, class teacher and parents. The children’s progress is tracked using the PIVATS. 

AOB

Please make sure that your child has a labelled water bottle, snack and packed lunch (if they do not require a school lunch). We also ask that your child does come in uniform but do not worry of there are occassions when this can't happen, we want your child to be happy. We also ask that you provide a change of clothes, nappies/pull-ups, wipes and nappy bags (if your child requires these). In the winter they will need a thick coat, gloves, hats and scarves. In the summer suncream and a hat as we do access outside everyday.

We look forward to welcoming your child.

kind regards

The Shooting Stars Team