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Watermill School, Turnhurst Road,

Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 6JZ

School Tel: (01782) 883737   INSPIRE Tel: (01782) 883777

Executive Headteacher: Mr J May

Four curriculum areas

The teaching and learning takes place within four main categories these being:- Communication skills, Life Skills, Motor skills and Sensory skills.

The categories interpret and combine the National curriculum statutory subjects. All subjects do cross over into one another therefore the categories are there to ensure all key subjects are being taught.

Communication-Language and Literacy.

  • Development of attention, listening and memory skills.
  • Motivation to communicate for some users.
  • Reduces frustrations as pupils are able to get their needs met.
  • Enables more understanding of the world around them.
  • Aids auditory discrimination which allows the enablement of other forms of communication for example Makaton, signing, Picture Exchange Communication.
  • Encourages eye contact and looking skills which will further learning.
Life Skills/R.E/Social and Culture-Geography,Science, Modern Foreign languages, P.H.S.E, Religious Education, History.
  • The celebration of achievement is prevalent to promote self independence, choices, making friends and being in control; in a two way respect.
  • Re/Social/Cultural and life skills intertwine other subjects providing opportunities for promoting pupils spiritual, moral, social, cultural, emotional, intellectual and physical development.
Motor Skills (fine, gross, body awareness,mobility)-P.E., I.C.T.
Examples of Fine Motor Skills:-
  • Bringing hands into midline
  • Touching and exploring various objects
  • Touching objects and textures with one hand and then the other
  • Encouraging reaching and grasping for objects and textures

Examples of Gross Motor Skills:-

  • Walking, sitting, standing
  • Maintain good head control
  • Head movement in all directions
  • Eye to eye contact with an adult in front of them
  • Be seated in a fully supported position
  • Stand using a ladder back
  • Stand fully supported.
  • Stand with hands held
  • Walk with aid of a walker
  • Walk fully supported by an adult
  • Walk with a frame

Examples of body awareness:-

  • Massage programmes using oils and creams- this encourages various senses to be stimulated by touching different parts of the body-hands/feet/head. We have a lady called Steph who comes into school once a week to do a hand therapy massage session with the pupils from 2SR and 1DS.
  • Aromatherapy and soothing sounds

Examples of mobility skills:

  • Indoor space allows the individual to explore their immediate environment in a safe way.
  • Rolling on different surfaces i.e.. a carpeted floor or a padded mat.
  • Rocking to and fro in a rocker or with support from an adult
  • Pushing and pulling people and adults

 

Sensory skills-Music, Cooking,P.H.S.E.

Using their senses is paramount to enable good positive learning and development. Sensory stimulation includes a wide range of amenities and resources both indoor and outdoor  which include for example:

  • Sensory rooms
  • Hydrotherapy pools
  • Aromatherapy massage using oils, creams, room ambience (sounds and smells)
  • Movement therapy -Elements programme-body awareness
  • Music therapy
  • Classroom to facilitate a multi sensory approach to learning
  • Individual multi sensory programmes
  • Opportunity to visit the local parks and the Adventure Playground
  • Grassed areas around the school
  • Sensory gardens/swings/wheelchair roundabout
 

Latest News

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Four curriculum areas

The teaching and learning takes place within four main categories these being:- Communication skills, Life Skills, Motor skills and Sensory skills.

The categories interpret and combine the National curriculum statutory subjects. All subjects do cross over into one another therefore the categories are there to ensure all key subjects are being taught.

Communication-Language and Literacy.

  • Development of attention, listening and memory skills.
  • Motivation to communicate for some users.
  • Reduces frustrations as pupils are able to get their needs met.
  • Enables more understanding of the world around them.
  • Aids auditory discrimination which allows the enablement of other forms of communication for example Makaton, signing, Picture Exchange Communication.
  • Encourages eye contact and looking skills which will further learning.
Life Skills/R.E/Social and Culture-Geography,Science, Modern Foreign languages, P.H.S.E, Religious Education, History.
  • The celebration of achievement is prevalent to promote self independence, choices, making friends and being in control; in a two way respect.
  • Re/Social/Cultural and life skills intertwine other subjects providing opportunities for promoting pupils spiritual, moral, social, cultural, emotional, intellectual and physical development.
Motor Skills (fine, gross, body awareness,mobility)-P.E., I.C.T.
Examples of Fine Motor Skills:-
  • Bringing hands into midline
  • Touching and exploring various objects
  • Touching objects and textures with one hand and then the other
  • Encouraging reaching and grasping for objects and textures

Examples of Gross Motor Skills:-

  • Walking, sitting, standing
  • Maintain good head control
  • Head movement in all directions
  • Eye to eye contact with an adult in front of them
  • Be seated in a fully supported position
  • Stand using a ladder back
  • Stand fully supported.
  • Stand with hands held
  • Walk with aid of a walker
  • Walk fully supported by an adult
  • Walk with a frame

Examples of body awareness:-

  • Massage programmes using oils and creams- this encourages various senses to be stimulated by touching different parts of the body-hands/feet/head. We have a lady called Steph who comes into school once a week to do a hand therapy massage session with the pupils from 2SR and 1DS.
  • Aromatherapy and soothing sounds

Examples of mobility skills:

  • Indoor space allows the individual to explore their immediate environment in a safe way.
  • Rolling on different surfaces i.e.. a carpeted floor or a padded mat.
  • Rocking to and fro in a rocker or with support from an adult
  • Pushing and pulling people and adults

 

Sensory skills-Music, Cooking,P.H.S.E.

Using their senses is paramount to enable good positive learning and development. Sensory stimulation includes a wide range of amenities and resources both indoor and outdoor  which include for example:

  • Sensory rooms
  • Hydrotherapy pools
  • Aromatherapy massage using oils, creams, room ambience (sounds and smells)
  • Movement therapy -Elements programme-body awareness
  • Music therapy
  • Classroom to facilitate a multi sensory approach to learning
  • Individual multi sensory programmes
  • Opportunity to visit the local parks and the Adventure Playground
  • Grassed areas around the school
  • Sensory gardens/swings/wheelchair roundabout
 

Location

Contact

Watermill School,

Turnhurst Road,

Stoke-on-Trent,

Staffordshire,

ST6 6JZ.

e-mail: admin@watermillschool.co.uk

School Tel: (01782) 883737

INSPIRE Tel: (01782) 883777

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