The Ark Class is a specialist enhanced resource within Brentnall Community Primary School that caters for children who have autism spectrum condition (ASC).
The Ark Class is a 12 place key stage 2 resource for children who have an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Zebra Class is an integral part of Brentnall and the children join mainstream activities as part of their daily routine, this includes lesson time, playtimes, dinnertimes and for assemblies.
Our enhanced resource is overseen by our Assistant Headteacher and SENCO, Mrs. Mendham. Our teachers are: Mr Shepherd, Mr Lindo, Mr Hill, Miss Monks and Miss Hamilton.
The Curriculum
We deliver a curriculum that is based on the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum. As Brentnall is an inclusive school, the staff work hard to ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of the individual. Special considerations are given to the teaching of life skills as well as essential maths and English skills.
Each child follows their own individual programme where they are taught carefully planned activities suitable to their stage of development. Time is given to work on the outcomes which from each child’s EHCP. These activities are taught both in their own setting and when appropriate, in mainstream classes. The children are provided with a high level of support to ensure that they are working towards their individual targets and their progress is closely monitored through observations and formal assessments. Staff ensure that all achievements are celebrated and rewarded.
Where children are accessing The Ark Class full time, carefully devised transition programmes are tailored to meet the needs of the individual children where their transition to mainstream is carefully planned. With additional support, all children access playtimes, lunchtimes and assemblies with the rest of the school. To ensure that all children experience success with their transition to mainstream, children access lessons that they enjoy the most and where appropriate, the children are asked which lessons they would like to participate in. Each stage of the transition process will be closely monitored and taken at a pace that is appropriate to the needs of the individual.
Home learning
All children have a reading book that is matched to their reading ability which is changed regularly. The children are encouraged to read each night at home as well as being listened to in school regularly. Each half term, the children will be assigned home learning tasks that they are encouraged to complete which are based on life skills, for example the children might be asked to practise using a toaster safely or to practise crossing a road safely. Please feel free to take photos and email these to zebras@brentnallschool.uk, we look forward to seeing any pictures you take.
Parental contact
As many children come to school on transport provided by the local authority, the children in The Ark Class have a home school diary which is used to communicate messages from school to home and vice versa. Regular contact is made with all parents to ensure good communication between home and school.
PE
This year we are lucky enough to have a specially trained sports coach in school who will be delivering some of our PE curriculum. Children have PE on Wednesdays and Fridays in The Ark class but also might have PE in their mainstream class on other days. We suggest that you send a clean PE kit in at the start of each new half term and we will send it home at the end of half term so it can be washed, that way the children will always have their PE kits on their PE days. If your child needs assistance in dressing, staff are available to support where necessary.
Please don’t hesitate to contact school if you have any further questions. Thank you for your continued support and assistance.
The Ark Class Staff