The Russett School

We are a lower key stage 2 class made up of year 3 and 4 pupils.  In Willow Class, every child is celebrated for who they are and the unique strengths they bring.  We provide a supportive, nurturing, and engaging environment where learning is an exciting journey tailored to each individual.

We follow a multi-sensory approach to learning, giving children opportunities to explore and understand the world though touch, sight, sound and movement.  Our daily activities include Attention Autism sessions, sensory experiences and sensory stories that spark curiosity and encourage interaction.

Using a total communication approach, we support the development of communication skills in a way that works best for each child, whether through speech, signing, symbols or technology. 

The Willow team are passionate about helping every learner develop independence and self-help skills, ensuring they grow in confidence and are prepared for the future.   

Our staff team consists of:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Gina (class teacher)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Ellie                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Holly                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Sophie                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

This half term our topic is 'Growing Together.'

READING IN WILLOW

Reading in Willow Class involves practising early reading skills through sharing and enjoying stories and books together.  This promotes the children's imagination, curiosity about the world around them, communication skills and, most importantly, a love of reading and storytelling.

Our focus text this half term is 'When I Grow Up' by Tim Minchin.  We are sure this exciting story will inspire a wealth of sensory experiences, role play opportunities, creative mark making and artwork.  The children will also have opportunities to apply and practise their early reading skills across all areas of the curriculum.

In addition, the children take part in daily pre-phonics or phonics sessions designed to embed the foundational skills needed for early reading.  Through playful, language-rich experiences, pupils accessing pre-phonics sessions develop key skills such as listening and attention, sound discrimination, turn-taking, vocabulary development and communication, providing a strong foundation for future phonics learning. Pupils participating in phonics sessions develop the core skills needed to link speech sounds (phonemes) with written letters and letter groups (graphemes), enabling them to decode words for reading and use sounds to write words For more information about pre-phonics, please visit our Curriculum Subject Statements page using the link below: 

The Russett School - Curriculum Statements

IN ADDITION, WE HAVE...

• Swimming on Tueadays (this half term)                                                                                                                                                                                                          
• Immersive room sessions
• Learning Kitchen sessions
• VR headsets
• Magic Carpet
• Educational visits

Please see our class timetable below for more information.

In Willow, we love working, growing, sharing and playing together! We capture evidence of our learning through Evisense; please check your child’s page to see what we have been doing!  Please also upload any photos / videos taken at home as we love to see them.

SPECIAL REQUESTS

• Please ensure your child's belongings are clearly labelled with their name.
• We have snack twice a day (morning and afternoon).  You might want to consider packing these separate to your child's packed lunch (if they have one) and label them with your child's name. 
• Please remember that we are a nut free school.