Cormorant class is a specialist class for secondary and FE students with PMLD (Profound and Multiple Learning difficulties), sensory impairments and associated health and medical issues. The age ranges are between 12 and 19 years.
Students in Cormorant Class are working on both the Routes for Learning Curriculum as well as JGS Levels 1 and 2.
Cormorant Class offers a specialised curriculum in five Key Skill Areas:
- Communication
- Cognitive Skills
- Environmental Control Technology
- Social and Emotional Well-Being
- Physical Skills (Gross and Fine Motor).
We work in collaboration with SaLT, Sensory support teachers, Physiotherapists, Occupational therapists, the school nurse and other multi-disciplinary agencies.
Approaches to Learning
- We acknowledge that PMLD pupils learn best with well-structured, daily routines where a consistent and responsive environment underpins well-planned and effectively resourced activities. Most pupils have significant physical needs and therefore ‘preparation for learning’ is key. All pupils are supported to be comfortable and functionally well-positioned to allow for learning opportunities;
- Pupils require a wide range of opportunities to develop their sense of agency and control. Well-planned activities supported by adults provide the framework for this to develop however, we also recognise and value opportunities for pupils to develop these skills as self-occupancy activities;
- For all pupils, but especially those with PMLD teaching and learning need to be maintained across the day and we value ‘ongoing learning through routines’ e.g. personal care;
- We recognise that all of our pupils require learning opportunities that are unique and relevant to them as individuals;
- We all recognise that every child is unique and therefore personalise our approach to each of them;
- We provide a safe, caring, organised and happy environment in which the needs of all the students and young people we support are met;
- We use a range of facilities designed for students with the most complex disabilities;
- We put the students at the heart of everything, we do. An accessible learning environment is crucial for the students and young people we support.
- We plan for them to, first and foremost, be as comfortable as possible with good positioning, suitable resourcing, lighting and approaches according to needs identified by the functional visual assessment;
- The learning environment stimulates, excites and uses motivators whilst being mindful of over-stimulation, which can hinder learning opportunities.
- All environments are safe and, where necessary, risk assessed.
Our Special Curriculum includes activities such as:
- Messy Play
- Intensive Interaction
- Tac Pac
- Sensology
- Music Therapy
- Hydro
- Sensory therapy rooms
Our topics this year include:
- Autumn (Witches/Wizards and Winter Wonderland(Cold climates)
- Spring (Celebrations and Easter)
- Summer (A dinosaur garden and night/day; light/dark)