Welcome to Rock Class

Our Class:

Rock Class is a KS4 class with a very busy and dedicated team, led by our teacher Rachel Waters. We work very closely with the school’s Specialist Intervention Team who complement our team of Physiotherapists, Dieticians, Occupational and Speech and Language Therapists to set both group and individual programmes as required. Rock class have developed close relationships with their peers and adults, and within the wider school community. They strive to try their very best in everything they do, we are immensely proud of them.

Our Curriculum:

The emphasis of the Key Stage 4 curriculum is to widen the range of experiences that the pupils receive by following both the National Curriculum and their EHCP Preparing for Adulthood outcomes. Both Core and Non- Core Curriculum subjects are taught through three distinct topic areas: Work Related Learning, Independent Living Skills, and Health and Wellbeing.  In Key Stage 4, a large part of our learning is focused on functional learning and life skills. Independence and Communication are key themes that run through all areas of learning.   Links into the community are made wherever appropriate within each module; this also includes using community facilities.

Reading in KS4

Within KS4, reading builds on from previous reading skills taught in KS3.  Some of our conventional learners still follow a phonics program, (Phonics for Pupils with Special Educational Needs) to develop their reading skills.  For our emerging readers, the focus remains on letters through our letter of the day program.  Pupils are encouraged to read or share books with their adults across the school week.   KS4 pupils also begin to apply their literacy in a more functional way.  Whether it be working on pre-requisite skills by learning to identify environmental sounds or identifying social signs within the community or following a simple based sequencing strip.  This aspect of our curriculum is designed to encourage our students to use their acquired reading skills to prepare them for adult life.

Our Environment:

Curnow consists of a wide variety of learning environments that provide quality spaces that enable our pupils to learn in a variety of ways. Key Stage 4 has two learning classrooms, one for table work and another more sensory based area (please see pictures above).  We also have a work related learning space where we practice functional life skills.

Our large outdoor area includes a football field as well as various sensory opportunities. Many of our students have sensory processing issues and the equipment is designed to meet their proprioceptive and vestibular needs. We have a garden area which allows us to grow some of the foods that we use in our cooking preparation modules. As well as areas designed for 1:1 learning we also have the hydro pool, sensory integration room, a newly designed sensory room and teaching kitchens which facilitate our life skills modules.   We also have a life skills room to develop their experiences, skills and knowledge of community based learning.  This year our focus has been working in a café and supermarket shopping.