Kestrels

Welcome to Kestrel Class – Our slightly chaotic but amazingly unique class. We have a class of wonderful children, full of character, who range from ages 7-11, all following an Informal Pathway.

 

                                        

                                    

                                                                                                        

Our Team

Class Teacher: Fintan

Support Staff: Sandie, Ashleigh, Hayley 

Kestrels is an Informal, Indigo Pathway class aged 7–11 years with complex learning needs, including children with autism and a range of communication and sensory needs. We provide a calm, nurturing and supportive environment where every child is encouraged to build confidence, develop independence and celebrate their own achievements.

We work closely as a team to ensure that every child receives the individual support, encouragement and opportunities they need to thrive throughout the school day. 

Our key areas of learning this year are communication, emotional wellbeing and self-regulation, social interaction, independence and early academic skills. We use visual supports, objects of reference, symbols, signing and other forms of total communication to help our pupils express their wants, needs, feelings and choices. We also use a structured teaching approach called TEACCH that uses clear routines and visual support to help children understand what is expected of them and develop greater independence whilst learning. 

Our first topic this year is ‘A Whole New World’, helping us explore our new classroom, routines, people and places. We use our topics as a starting point for introducing new vocabulary and experiences, while always linking learning to the individual interests and needs of our pupils. Across the year, we will explore a range of engaging themes and real-life experiences that help our children develop their understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Our favourite activities include TEACCH sessions, swimming, sensory activities, music and songs, arts and crafts, trying different foods, and exploring our school and local community. We love learning through hands-on experiences, repetition and familiar routines, while also providing opportunities for our pupils to explore, make choices and develop their independence.

We also recognise that our children learn best when they are regulated, comfortable and supported, so sensory needs and emotional wellbeing are an important part of every day in Kestrels. We provide opportunities for movement, sensory exploration and co-regulation, helping our pupils gradually develop strategies that work for them.

We work closely with parents and carers through Class Dojo, sharing the children’s experiences, achievements and learning from across the school day.

Most importantly, we are a class that loves to have fun! We celebrate every small step and achievement, from trying something new to communicating a choice or completing a task independently. We are incredibly proud of our pupils and look forward to seeing them grow in confidence throughout the year.