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Fox Hollies Special School

Fox Hollies Special School

Autumn 2024 Pathway 1 Curriculum Grid: for parents and carers       

Life skills 

Sensory stories and play 

Community 

Topic: personal care routines 

Ks3

  • To experience and explore smells, textures and to build tolerance and acceptance towards basic personal care routines 
  • Introduce and/or consolidate handwashing, face creams, toothbrushing, hair brushing body spray. 

Ks4: 

  • Achieving independence with basic personal care routines through the day: handwashing, toothbrushing and introducing new ones: shaving, lipstick, body sprays, perfumes... Focused on haircare: shampoo, gel, hair drying, dying, brushing... 

Ks5:  

  • To achieve independence and become responsible of some basic personal care routines through the day: hand washing, toothbrushing... (to take responsibility of their own vanity bag)   

  

 

 

 

Topic: weather big rain 

Pathway 1 will explore the story through different activities and sensory props that will involve water play, specifically pouring and spraying and will reflect the different characters and situations we meet. 

 

KS3: To work with the same staff team each week, build trust and positive relationships. 

Ks4:  To explore the sensory story with support from staff using props and sensory resources  

Ks5: 

Play sessions linked to story:  Umbrellas and water sprays, 

Smelling cut grass 

Soil and leaves 

Fans making wind  

Clothes for different weather- mirrors 

Smells of flowers – essential oils, heated blanket, and ice for seasons 

Stones, sand, and gravel floors 

All classes will practise (or work towards) daily transitions around school locations, and weekly use of the school garden and Highbury Park for walking.   

 

KS3:  

1S: will work towards accessing arts, music and cafe sessions at Touch Base Pears in Selly Oak.  

1M: will work towards using Rush trampoline park 

KS4: 

1J: Will work towards biking sessions in Canon Hill park and a regular cafe visit.  

1D: Will work towards community swimming sessions and a weekly shopping trip or cafe visit.  

KS5: in addition to weekly shopping and / or cafe visit, will use early communication skills to choose weekly sessions from all of the above and wider community visits, e.g. Martineau gardens.  

 

 

Arts  

RSHE 

Topic: Sensory and Play-Based Art 

 

In pathway 1 students will have the opportunity to express themselves at - 

 KS3: Exploring the concept of ‘clouds’ by making cloud dough and creating cloud shaving foam prints inspired by Howard Hodgkin’s abstract prints.  

 KS4: Exploring the concept of ‘rain’ by making a rain cloud in a jar and experimenting with painting techniques inspired by Jackson Pollock’s action paintings. 

 

KS5: Exploring the concept of ’storms’ by making a sensory storm bottle and creating a mixed media piece inspired by J.M.W Turner’s storm paintings. 

 

Topic: Music 

In pathway 1 students will have the opportunity to express themselves at -  

KS3: Exploring weather soundscapes and listening to weather themed songs. Students will make instruments that they will use to perform and create their own soundscapes. 

 

KS4: In addition, students will explore dynamics and will learn about loud and soft. 

 

KS5: Students will explore creating sensory instruments and sounds out of recycled material and creating a short soundtrack for a piece of film. 

 

 

movement 

Food  

 

We will use the prompt of the Paralympic Games to explore early ball and balloon games, building towards playing simplified versions of Goalball and Sitting Volleyball, within a structured sensory circuit format. 

 

KS3: 1:1 working with staff to develop early fun and play skills with balls and balloons, introduce volleyball net, goalball, goals and cause and effect activities e.g. knock down skittles with goalball.  

KS4: In addition, will explore working with a partner (with support), early passing and receiving and simple game situations, score into goal, hit over net. 

 

KS5: In addition, will use early communication skills to choose elements of the games preferred, begin to play some small side games with support, compare to other known games, and choose which to play from a wider choice of activities within the same structure.  

 

 

 

Making Apple crumble  

Family apple crumble workshop at school (TBC ) 

 

Ks3:  

  • to explore new textures, smells, flavours and to engage and accept staff guidance and support with mixing all the ingredients to make an apple crumble 
  • To go to the school garden to collect the apples for the activity 

Ks4:  

  • to follow a simple sequence, encouraging independence to make their own apple crumble to take home and share with families 

Ks5:  

  • to create a weekly shopping list and to go to the supermarket to buy all the ingredients for P1 apple crumbles  
  • To independently follow a sequence and instructions to make their own apple crumble and to clean and tidy up after.