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Wells Park School

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Curriculum

Enrichment

Curriculum Enrichment

Wells Park provides a host of enrichment activities to enhance the learning of its pupils. We believe that children are motivated and eager to learn when their interest is captured and enrichment activities often spark that desire to learn. Opportunities to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils are sought at every stage and we actively promote British Values. Our enrichment activities help to foster a strong school ethos, support the development of behavioural skills and encourage positive peer relationships.

Curriculum Enrichment 2015-16

Trips

School trips are regular events. Visits are always well planned to support the learning and for rewards at the end of the school year. In recent years, among other educational visits, children have visited the Houses of Parliament to encourage thinking about making connections between Parliament and their local area, major London museums, local parks and shops. Pupils have also visited local restaurants, major theme parks and zoos, swimming pools and Hainault Forest, as part of the residential time in the school.

Visitors

We enjoy inviting a range of visitors to our school. These may be people working in our local community such as firemen, or professional musicians and singers. Children also enjoy history themed days, animal handling experiences and drama/music workshops to support learning.

Life Skills Curriculum

Our curriculum aims to have a pupil centred approach in which every pupil is encouraged to enjoy learning, make progress and achieve. We recognise that pupils at Wells Park School have specific, diverse and individual needs and our curriculum aims to reflect and meet those needs.

Life Skills are a key part of the curriculum for all Wells Park pupils. Careful and individualised curriculum planning gives all pupils the opportunity to experience and learn to prepare for real life situations. Practical life skills are an essential part of learning to be independent, feeling confident in the community and help to develop self-esteem. Skills taught within the safe school environment, and most importantly on trips out of the school, teach our children how to achieve tasks that others normally consider as easy.

How are Life Skills taught at Wells Park?

Whilst the development of life skills is embedded into the daily education and care for all pupils, we may dedicate time within the weekly timetable to concentrate on these vital skills for specific pupils. The child’s needs are carefully assessed and targeted, and next steps are prioritised. Key areas may include:

Emotional Literacy Skills

Individual lessons which develop a child’s ability to understand and express his own feelings. This includes learning to recognise feelings and considering how to manage them, such as the ability to stay calm when angered or to reassure oneself when in doubt.

Road Safety and Transport

This includes crossing the road, using public transport, riding a bike.

Home Skills

This includes shopping, cooking, bed making etc.

Environmental Awareness

Such as gardening, recycling, composting, seasonal crafts and developing a pride in our surroundings.

Leisure

This includes swimming or sports.

Fitness Fridays

Wells Park School – Fitness Fridays

Fitness Friday - Children UNDO Advice will provide a weekly 90-minute fitness session for children at Wells Park School. The sessions will be based around different elements of exercise, fitness and games. The sessions will incorporate the following:

➢ Cardiovascular health

➢ Strength Training

➢ Endurance building

➢ Ability Training

➢ Balance

➢ Coordination

Research indicates that inactive children are likely to become inactive adults, it is important to encourage exercise and keeping fit from a young age. Regular exercise has lots of health benefits for children and young people;

➢ improving fitness

➢ providing an opportunity to socialise

➢ increasing concentration

➢ improving academic scores

➢ building a stronger heart, bones and healthier muscles

➢ encouraging healthy growth and development

➢ improving self-esteem

➢ improving posture and balance

➢ lowering stress

➢ encouraging a better night's sleep

Fitness Friday – Adults UNDO Advice will spend 2 hours on a monthly basis with the staff to promote fitness and wellbeing within the workplace. This will be a combination of nutrition education and a physical activity. When a workplace can provide support and advice for employees to make wise food choices and the option of a physical activity, it can influence the person’s long-term health and wellness. Together healthy eating and active living ,combined with a positive outlook can lead to:

➢ Reduced anxiety and stress

➢ Reduced risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer

➢ Elevated mood, energy and self-esteem

UNDO Advice will spend approximately 80 hours with Wells Park School, working with both staff and children to promote fitness and wellbeing.

Woody Wells

Wells Park offers an outdoor approach to learning through its ‘Woody Wells’ programme. The philosophy encourages and inspires pupils through positive outdoor experiences. Children engage in motivating and achievable tasks in a woodland environment. Learning outdoors helps children to place their learning in context and is a motivating way for children to enhance learning opportunities. It is also a way for pupils to work on their social and independent sklls.

Woody Wells Pigs

July 23rd began like any other on a farm in Suffolk, the animals woke up, Giles (the farmer) brought them food and checked they were happy and the animals prepared for a nice day in the sun. The day was slightly different to any other for Sunshine the pig as she woke up after a long sleep but was still tired. The reason she was tired was because she was pregnant with 10 little piglets. She couldn’t wait to see them and luckily she met her babies later that day, all happy and they began to suckle (milk from her).

7 weeks later and three of the boy (boar) piglets were old enough to leave Mum and were brought by Giles for their first day at Wells Park School. The children were excited but kind to let the piglets settle in their new home. The pigs soon jumped up on to their trotters to explore their pen and find the acorns and apples that the children had collected for treats.

The school will be taking good care of the three boars them until Christmas.

Each class offered names and then chose the most popular in a democratic vote. The chosen names for the three boys are: Bonnie, Mr Pork Chops and Rex.