Puffins
Welcome to Puffin Class – our Purple Pathway class for children aged 4 to 10 years. We are a calm, nurturing and sensory-rich learning environment where every child is valued, supported and encouraged to engage with the world in their own unique way.
Our Team
Class Teacher: Laura
Teaching Assistants: Sandra, Emma and Katy
We work together as a team of four to ensure every child receives the individualised care, support and encouragement they need throughout the school day. The children in Puffin Class have a range of profound and multiple learning disabilities, and we're committed to helping each child reach their full potential.
This year we are working towards:
- Helping our new friends settle into Puffin Class – We want every child to feel safe, comfortable and happy in their new environment
- Having lots of varied and multi-sensory experiences to support our learning – We believe in engaging all the senses to help children connect with and understand the world around them
- Going out into the community on some class trips – We want to provide real-world experiences and help our children feel part of their wider community
Some of Puffin Class's favourite lessons include Jabadao (wheelchair dance), Rebound Therapy, Sensology and TacPac – activities that engage the whole body and all the senses!
The children in Puffin Class learn best through:
- Consistent routines – Predictable patterns help children feel secure and understand what's happening
- Opportunities to practise and repeat their skills – Repetition helps embed learning and build confidence
- Individualised activities – We tailor everything to each child's unique needs and abilities
We use multisensory approaches for the pupils in Puffin Class so that they access their learning through all of their senses – sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. We ensure that the children in Puffin Class have opportunities for the development of a variety of skills during the school day. This may look like:
- Communication activities during sensory storytime
- Practising feeding skills at lunchtime
- Engaging in fun physiotherapy during play times
The children in Puffin Class are visited by a range of professionals to support their development and wellbeing. This includes:
- Physiotherapists
- Occupational therapists
- Orthotics
- Hearing support
- Vision support
- The school nursing team
This year we have a wonderful range of topics to explore:
- Autumn – exploring the changing season
- Halloween – discovering spooky sights and sounds
- Bonfire Night – experiencing lights and celebrations
- Christmas – enjoying festive traditions
- Vikings – learning about history and adventure
- USA Road Trip – travelling across America
- Wild West – exploring cowboys and the frontier
- The World Cup – celebrating sport and teamwork
- Wimbledon – discovering tennis and competition
Each topic provides rich opportunities for sensory exploration and engagement, helping our children connect with the world in meaningful ways.
In Puffin Class, we believe that strong partnerships between home and school are essential for every child's development and happiness.
Daily communication: Staff communicate regularly with parents via the Class Dojo app so that you know all about your child's day in school. We share photos and videos of the children participating in school activities, celebrating their achievements and special moments.
Sharing from home: We always enjoy hearing about what our Puffins have been getting up to at home too! This collaboration helps us to get to know the children in Puffin Class well, including their likes, dislikes and special interests.
Continuing learning at home: This partnership gives our parents the opportunity to continue their child's learning at home, using any skills that their child has been working towards at school. Together, we can provide consistency and support across both settings.