Department Lead: Patricia Agueda

Little Wings Department is for the youngest children in the school and comprises of 5 classes. The children in these classes have a range of additional needs including Autism, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Social, emotional, Physical and Sensory related difficulties.

Each class in Little Wings follows the same themes for the term but the activities and sessions are differentiated according to the learning needs and styles of the individuals within the class. Our Early Years Combined Curriculum is underpinned by exciting, engaging, child-led learning that builds on each individual child's next steps to ensure that children make good progress in all areas. We ensure that whilst following the Early Years Combined curriculum with SCERTS children have a high level of structured and targeted interventions a day. Consistency and routine bring familiarity, and with it a sense of security that allows children to explore independently and spontaneoulsy with confidence.

Independence and life skills are a key focus within our department and these are integrated into our daily practice. If children begin to develop their independence skills as early as possible, they will be able to leave our department being as independent as possible, which for many of our pupils is the primary goal.

Speech & language, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy activities are also interwoven into each day depending on their individual needs. As part of our Total Communication support and SCERTS approach, all pupils will have access to individual, small and whole class sessions which will allow them to access Attention Autism, Intensive Interaction, Makaton signing, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECs), Augmentative and Alternative Communication Aids, See & Learn Whole Word Reading Scheme, Numicon mathematics scheme and gross motor skills programs.