English at The Redway School is based on the understanding that speaking, listening, reading and writing are all communication skills. Classroom activities aim to support the students to develop their skills in speaking, listening and literacy. Our students may communicate by speaking, signs, symbols, photographs or by using voice output communication aids.
However, some of our students are not yet ready to use these methods of communication and may communicate through gestures, facial expression or body language.
The English department works in close partnership with the speech and language therapy department to enable children to develop effective methods of communication.
The teaching of communication and literacy skills is not confined to timetabled sessions alone but is an integral part of every curricular area.
Primary Department
English teaching follows the principles laid down by the Primary National Strategy. This states that learning objectives should be right for each child at each stage of their learning and development and should be based on prior learning and informed assessment.
At the Redway School children’ s communication skills are assessed following which a plan is developed which aims to ensure class activities are at the correct level for each child.
Our Speech and Language Therapist works with all the students in their class groups on a rota thus ensuring that she spends a block of time in each class throughout the school year.
Communication is always taught in a social setting, where there students are motivated to interact with others. Learning through play is an important part of learning to communicate. For example, Daisies class have been working on hiding and looking games and the associated words by having fun with big boxes, parachute and the tunnel.
Stories and rhymes are pleasurable to all our students. The Primary Department make them accessible to students through real experiences. Bluebells class have enjoyed the nonsense poem “Roly Poly Jelly” which involved lots of multi-sensory exploration of jelly and imaginative play.
Learning to use words by speaking, signing or using a voice output communication aid is the first step in learning to read. The Primary Department aims to give all students a positive introduction to reading and writing skills. The Buttercups class have reading and writing centres in the classroom with cosy seating and lots of literacy based activities to try. Everyone who has begun to make the huge step into literacy have found all their efforts rewarded, praised and celebrated.
Secondary Department
English sessions are taught in class groups during the morning but the afternoon mixed activity groups continue the focus on developing effective communication skills within a social environment and developing this further in encouraging the students to become as independent as possible, in preparation for life after school.
Language and communication skills continue to focus on developing effective communication. Secondary and Post 16 teachers aim to give the students access to a wider range of literature through creative and imaginative teaching. Students can access Shakespeare, classical poems and Homer’s Odyssey using interactive story telling techniques. The MiLE Room (multi sensory interactive learning environment) was used by Rowan class to create a wonderful atmosphere for experiencing the power of Macbeth.
In addition there are also two enhancement groups which certain pupils attend each week. The ‘Talk Talk’ group where our verbal communicators come together to work on their verbal communication skills and social skills. The second group is run by our Speech and Language Therapy Assistant, supported by school staff for all our communication aid users. This provides them with an in-depth session to enhance their skills in using their sophisticated machines.
