At Woodlands Nursery, our Communication group is formed by a small group of children who have been identified as having moderate to severe learning difficulties with significant delays in communication. The needs of the children within this group vary widely and are met through a balance of adult led and child initiated learning opportunities.

Our Communication group at Woodlands Nursery follows a flexible and adapted version of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum with a strong emphasis on the Prime areas (Communication and Language development, Physical development and Personal, Emotional and Social development). Our learning is play based and active with continuous provision and sensory exploration activities planned throughout the day. These activities may include but are not restricted to:

• Forest school (please see additional page for further information on this)
• Attention Autism (please see additional page for further information on this)
• Water and sand area
• Role play area
• Mark making
• Construction area
• Swimming
• Outdoor bikes and small apparatus

We place focus on the journey taken and the experience our children gain when carrying out activities over the desire to reach an ‘end goal’. We understand the needs of our children are very specific to the individual therefore; children will receive individualised targets set for each area of learning.  These targets are addressed through 1:1 and small group sessions with teaching adapted to meet the needs of each individual.

Children’s understanding and use of expressive language is at the core of the provision we offer at Woodlands Nursery. Ensuring every child is maximising their communication potential is at the heart of everything we do. We pride ourselves on having a rich language environment that is well differentiated to meet the needs of all our children. As well as using reduced language to support your child’s understanding and use of language, we implement a number of alternative communication strategies best suited to your child. These include but are not inclusive of:

• Visual timetables
• Symbols
• PECS
• Objects of reference
• Switches and buttons
• Communication books
• Now…… and Then…..

Therapies play a key role in the curriculum we offer and are important for the development of our children. We embed these therapies in our curriculum and extend upon on them during the nursery day. As a team, we receive ongoing training in areas such as sensory integration, physical development and support and alternative communication strategies. We work closely with external agencies such as (but not inclusive of) speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists to develop and assess children’s communication and physical development and ensure they have the tools needed to progress as independently as possible. We are also supported by the hearing and vision impaired team where needed.