Welcome to Meerkat Class!  

Meerkat Class is our Reception/Year 1 cohort at Halesbury. We can accommodate 10 children in our class. The staff team in Meerkat Class is comprised of class teacher - Miss A Preece, supported by four teaching assistants and a care assistant.

In Meerkat Class, our learning is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. The children learn through both child-initiated and adult-led play, in an environment adapted to meet the sensory and care needs of our pupils.

Our Daily Routine

We start our day with movement time first thing to support the children with their transition into school. Then we sit in our chairs at the interactive whiteboard. The children are all greeted and can greet Miss Preece verbally or using a talk button. We will then engage with our phonics session, beginning with a nursery rhyme sing along with actions, and ending with a listening activity to develop phonemic awareness. The children will then engage with a story book, related to our topic for the term.

In the mornings, the children work on individualised targets in either Communication and Language or Mathematics. Staff support pupils in achieving these by creating and providing resources, modelling and offering help where necessary. We have a mid-morning break, where the children have a snack and enjoy some outdoor play.

The children have their lunch and enjoy some outdoor play before beginning their afternoon. During the week, we engage in sessions of IT, PE, Cooking, My Independence, PSHE, Art, Music (delivered by Rhythm Time) and World Around Us (which encompasses science, history, geography and RE). The curriculum is planned around our topics for each term, adapted to suit the individual needs of our pupils. The Meerkat Team supports each child in their engagement by modelling and providing encouragement to pupils. During the year, pupils also get sessions of Forest School, Swimming and timetabled access to the Light Room.

We have a break for snack and take some time to wind down at the end of the day. The children enjoy what we call ‘Dark Time’. The room is darkened, and we switch on our relaxing sensory light projector and some calm music. The children are encouraged to relax on the bean bags, mats, yoga and peanut balls before getting ready to go home.

Communication

To support our pupils with their communication, we currently use:

• Objects of reference
• Photos of reference
• Widgits
• Communication boards – to support with accessing toys and activities
• Now and Next boards
• Visual timetables
• Makaton signing
• Talk buttons