This term, we have explored ‘Thrive’ by incorporating a ‘Rise’ session into our week. During this session, we have been working on our social and emotional development, our communication skills, sharing resources and spaces, as well as our transitioning.
Each week, we have demonstrated:
- Great tolerance with other pupils in our shared space with the same resources.
- Amazing and increased commenting using pupil specific communication boards.
- Exploring different textures using different tools.
- Transitioning with our peers with adult support.
This week with Miss Murphy, we joined our peers at the front of the classroom to explore ‘jellyfish’. We each got our own jiggly jellyfish in water, along with a torch. With the lights off, we could see the jellyfish moving around and the bright coloured legs!
When Miss Murphy set up the mermaid themed tray full of sea weed, colourful rice, slime (gellobaff), shimmery water and scoops, most of us came over to see what was happening. Some of us got stuck in, scooping with our hands, and some of us watched from a distance and explored at our own pace. Miss Murphy then added the seashells that had lots of different sea creatures inside! We used the communication boards to comment ‘open sea shell’ ‘find shark’ ‘I wonder what’s inside!’. Our familiar adults modelled our key word ‘find’ and explored along side us!
When Miss Murphy began to tidy away the tray, our other teachers turned the lights back off, and blew lots and lots of bubbles! Additionally, they wafted a shiny, sequin mermaid blanket that felt rough to touch. Eventually, we were all back at the front of the classroom together as a group, engaging in a regulating, visual shared experience.
This session in particular highlighted some of the progress that our pupils have made in terms of transitioning without verbal prompt from adults.
Please enjoy some wonderful pictures from this half term!
Well done Chestnut class.
Thrive chestnut 2025-2026
