Focusing on developing social & life skills the Outreach Programme is designed to help children who have a variety of learning and developmental needs.
Social skills and life skills are developed through a variety of activities, including games, role-play and group discussion. Pupils are taught to read social cues, to initiate and maintain conversation, to listen, share and problem-solve, to recognise and regulate their emotions and to work and play cooperatively.
We aim to encourage independence and skills for everyday living. Pupils enrolled in the group are taught to gain an awareness of mathematics as an essential part of everyday living. We aim to encourage skills in time management and in the handling of money by applying numeration and number operations to practical daily situations. Pupils are taken on various outings and a weekly cookery lesson is part of the programme. They are also taught to gain an awareness of the values that will enable them to lead healthy, active and productive lives, and offered creative opportunities for self-expression in art, dance and music.
The group is attended by either of our therapists. The Speech and Language Therapist, helps the students develop the social language skills necessary for social relationships. The Occupational Therapist helps them identify and overcome barriers in everyday living. Our Physiotherapist runs a weekly physical activity session that aims to help with movement and coordination. Our Music Therapist attends weekly and encourages creative expression and social engagement through group music sessions.
The Outreach group meets four afternoons a week; Monday to Thursday from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Reduced days of attendance can be arranged with the Headmaster.