Whole school blog

Ukraine Day

On Friday 18^th March we held a Ukraine Fundraiser Day where we spent the morning making tie dye tote bags, creating friendship bracelets and peace candles. In the afternoon, under the glorious sunshine, our students and staff held bake sales, tombola’s and sold arts and crafts to help raise an amazing £385 for Save the Children. Lots of messy fun was had in the sensory corner, bringing students from all departments together to explore wet and dry messy play. We threw water balloons at the Mr Tumble Splatter Station and found lots of minions on the minion hunt climbing frame! We finished the day off with an uplifting performance from our wonderful school signing choir. It was lovely to see all of our students together again, working together to help such a good cause. Thank you to Steff and Lauren who arranged the day and to everyone who helped make the day so special.

Footy club

Teacher Josh has started a cross school football club on Friday lunchtime – everyone is welcome to join in.

Scotswood Class

Here is Carol’s class engaging in “bucket therapy” and exploring some new Advanced Sensory Integration equipment – lots of lovely sharing and fabulous requesting using their communication boards and spontaneous commenting 😊

Apologies for the lateness of the blog this week, but here goes…

World Book Day

As usual, the staff and kids came out for WBD and dressed as their favorite characters ad enjoyed a range of reading activities. There was also a competition to decorate potatoes as book characters. Many thanks to Mr and Mrs Lindsay (parents of Carra-lynn, one of our fabulous SaLTs) who donated a lovely selection of books for us to give out as prizes.

You may have seen all the photos on the Foundation twitter feed which is embedded on our website front page. If not, here is a small selection:

Beadnell Class

Another busy week in Beadnell Class. We love our musical theatre topic! Here are some students working on therapy targets during music and movement group (songs from the musicals).

Sensory exploration in our Wizard of Oz interactive story, using our voices asking for more!

Attention autism

Attention Autism is an intervention model designed by Gina Davies, Specialist Speech and Language Therapist. It aims to develop natural and spontaneous communication through the use of visually based and highly motivating activities. Some of our teachers have being undertaking this training, which we have funded through Pupil Premium.

It has been another busy week in school and we a have a few pieces of news and photos to share with you. We all hope you have a good weekend – the wind is coming back on Saturday, so lock down whatever is left of your fences and sheds!

News from the week:

We are celebrating one child overcoming his anxieties this week: Joseph hasn’t accessed the school swimming pool for around a year, due to him developing anxiety about the pipe work that he could see through the windows. Yesterday, Joseph went into the changing area, removed his shoes and socks and dipped his feet into the water. He has now said he would like to swim with the class next week which is fantastic. Well done Joseph!

Ava, Nate and April have been developing their physical skills by doing their work whilst in their standing frames.

Students in Embleton class working really hard activating the magic carpet. They were encouraged to use both hands and watched as the projections changed. They also showed great interest in what the other was doing.

Angel Class have been learning the story of Hansel and Gretel they worked together and made a giant Gingerbread sweet house in their literacy session.

Hadrian Class have been working really hard on their ASDAN award. For the past few weeks they have been looking at health and exercise in sport. They have completed a number of tasks. Walking, interviewing sports people and working together to find a sport they would like to achieve together. On Monday they attended Clip and Climb at the Metro Centre and worked really hard.

And finally…here is a picture of Archie independently writing his own name for the very first time – we are so proud.

Rainbow Day Friday 11th February

Next Friday (11th Feb) we are celebrating diversity and LGBTQ+ month by holding a Rainbow Day with different activities set throughout the day all around celebrating differences. There will be some performing arts activities with pupils thinking about love, what is love, who we love, then in the afternoon art and science activities for some sensory fun. We are encouraging pupils and staff to dress in rainbow colours for the day.

Lots of learning has been going on in school this week as you can see from the photos below. Northern Counties students have been practising their independence skills, undertaking work experience, exploring different textures, marking World Holocaust Day, getting out into nature and using the metro (…a lot!).

I hope you have a super weekend – Jo

Haydan has been participating in some fantastic car washing for his Work Related Learning! Haydan has been scrubbing and rinsing to make sure he’s getting all the dirt off!

Rowan and Travis doing their community access café sessions – working on their transitions, social communication and friendship skills

Riley has settled back in to his new class really well. Here he is showing excellent engagement throughout his sessions!

Students from Raby class started to explore the metro this term and travelled all the way to Asda in Gosforth to do their shopping!  They have been buying items for their morning class breakfast club and have done absolutely fantastic!

This week Carol took her ‘little ones’ to The Rising Sun Country Park – and they had a fabulous time looking at the

birds and wildlife!

Charlie had an excellent community outing on Monday this week. He was really calm and sensible accessing the metro to Asda, completed his shopping and transitioned beautifully back to school 😊

This week, Hillcrest Centre are using Pavel Friedmann’s poem, ‘The Butterfly’ to think about all the lives lost in the Holocaust.  Pupils have all made their own butterflies to be displayed in our entrance alongside Friedmann’s writing.

The Butterfly

The last, the very last,

So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow.

Perhaps if the sun’s tears would sing

against a white stone…

Such, such a yellow

Is carried lightly ‘way up high.

It went away I’m sure because it wished to

kiss the world goodbye.

For seven weeks I’ve lived in here,

Penned up inside this ghetto

But I have found my people here.

The dandelions call to me

And the white chestnut candles in the court.

Only I never saw another butterfly.

That butterfly was the last one.

Butterflies don’t live in here,

In the ghetto.

~ Pavel Friedmann 4.6.1942