Emerson Park Academy

Endeavour, Persevere, Achieve

iClass

Pupils attending iClass are taught individually or in small groups with differentiated activities tailored to their needs.  Lessons are manageable and will often be discussion based to instil confidence and promote a sense of achievement. 

LIFESKILLS

Interventions are most successful when pupils are engaged in their learning and when pupils feel like they have succeeded in learning something tangible. Interventions are therefore holistic in their approach with a focus on life-skills.

Life-skills promote resilience through the development of emotional literacy, critical thinking, healthy relationships and strategies to prevent negative behaviour.

To compliment the life-skills based approach in iClass, ASDAN courses are available to provide pupils with access to a range of interventions.  ASDAN helps young people to achieve meaningful learning outcomes, elevating them to progress to further education, training or work and empowering them to take control of their lives.

 

ENGLISH AND MATHS

Literacy skills are promoted across all iClass interventions.  Pupils can also access Catapult, a learning programme that helps pupils to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to make progress in English.

Numeracy interventions utilise White Rose Maths. This facilitates assessment and teaching from KS1 through to GCSE.  Other online learning resources include 123 Maths, Sparks and Pearson Activelearn.

Pupils in Year 10 and 11 have the opportunity to study Entry Level Maths in addition to or in place of GCSE Maths.  This enables pupils with SEN to develop underpinning maths skills and understanding providing a progression to GCSE Maths in and beyond secondary school.

 

CROSS-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Cross-curricular activities are embraced within the classroom to help improve academic and social confidence and inspire creativity.  Some examples of iClass activities and projects include:

  • Gardening to build self-confidence and a sense of responsibility whilst helping pupils to understand cause and effect.
  • Art-based therapy, which incorporates emotional literacy through verbal discussion, to build social skills, communication and encourage positive behaviour.

  • Year 7 nurture groups are designed to facilitate pupil transition from primary to secondary school. 

  • ‘The Happy Chick Programme’ provides encouragement for pupils who are vulnerable and/or at risk of school-refusing.

  • The British Red Cross First Aid Champions programme teaches pupils basic first aid and promotes themes of kindness and good citizenship.

  • The Insect Lore Butterfly Garden and Silk Moth experience enable pupils to raise their own Painted Lady butterflies and Silk Moths.

  • Lego therapy sessions to develop social communication skills such as sharing, turn-taking, following instructions and problem-solving.

  • Partnered interventions encourage pupils to apply their learning, which in turn leads to a broader understanding and enjoyment of learning.  This encourages pupils to view their learning in more practical terms, which is more reflective of real life, and encourages students to make their own connections and draw their own conclusions.