Diamonds

The aim of Diamonds is to offer a bespoke curriculum and programme to meet the social communication needs, physical, and academic needs of Hallam Primary school pupils. During their time in Diamonds, we intend to allow pupils to have the opportunity to work (with a teacher and a high level of trained adult support) on individual programmes of learning, focusing on speech and language skills, independence skills and life skills. We intend to provide a safe learning environment, which enables children to acquire skills and knowledge to enable them to successfully integrate into mainstream school life, both in the classroom and wider mainstream activities. Most importantly, the children have time to build their self-esteem in a nurturing environment, to give them confidence and enable them to reach their full potential.

• Diamonds integrated resource caters for 16 pupils.
• There are currently children from Y1 to Y6 the provision.
• Children are supported by adults to integrate back into the mainstream setting alongside their peers
• Diamonds will use EHCP’s, Speech and language plans, Birth to five matters and The Birmingham toolkit to design personalised curriculum that will enable children to make progress in reading, writing and maths
• Birth to five matters and The Birmingham toolkit covers learning outcomes from FS1 to Y6 and will ensure that children have access to a broad and balanced curriculum that meets their learning needs.
• Children will be assessed regularly, using The Birmingham Toolkit, and will access the year group curriculum in which they are working within
• Diamonds integrated resource is extremely flexible; activities will be changed or adapted daily to meet the individual needs of the children.
• Diamonds integrated resource will vary for each child who accesses the provision; the amount of time spent in diamond for each child is planned on an individual basis using the child’s strengths as a driver - Diamonds will be underpinned by the Zones of Regulation principles to ensure that pupils are ready to learn
• Diamonds will use “total communication” strategies to ensure that all pupils are able to develop their social communication skills
• Children’s progress will be assessed using Birmingham toolkit/AET Framework to ensure that their progress is tracked

• All pupils within Diamonds will make progress against their EHCP/ Birmingham toolkit outcomes
• All pupils will access learning that challenges and develops their maths and English skills
• Pupils will be able to successfully integrate into their mainstream classroom
• Pupils will develop independent learning skills, that will enable them to be life long learners
• Pupils will be able to express their needs and wants with a range of adults and peers
• Pupils will be able to regulate their emotions, understanding strategies that they can use, so that they are ready to learn.
• Pupils will have the skills and knowledge in order to be able to access the next stage in their education journey

Each day will incorporate an opportunity for children to access a speaking and listening activity as part of a group and individually. Each activity is designed to promote listening and conversational/communication skills e.g. narrative skills, questioning, making statements and topic maintenance. Staff are trained in the use of Makaton and visual prompts are used in these sessions Below are some examples of activities that will take place.

• Weekend News session are used to support children to develop their narrative communication skills. Children are encouraged to talk about their weekend using photos, alongside communication boards with peers.
• ‘Show and Tell’ when the children bring all kinds of items into school. What is in the box? Children listen to a description and use communication mats to guess what is in the box
• Vocabulary Sessions - word aware/concept cat
• LEAP and VIP - these are used to develop vocabulary and application of grammar
• SVO and Shape coding - to develop key word level sentences

Reading and listening to stories is a fundamental part of Diamonds provision and each day their will be a range of reading activities for all children to access to support both their reading skills and love of reading.

• Pupils listen to a story read by an adult daily
• Pupils will have the opportunity to read to an adult/ complete a reading activity daily
• Pupils will have access to differentiated phonics lessons as part of the Read, Write inc programme
• Pupils will be encouraged to listen to and share stories with their peers
• Pupils will have access to a comprehension session, this may be based on a book or picture depending on the children stage of development

Within Diamonds Pupils will be provided with regular opportunities to practice and develop their writing skills. The sessions will be personalised and in line with the pupil’s Birmingham toolkit targets.

• Pupils will have the opportunity to mark make
• Pupils will have the opportunity to write a range of texts, for example informative, texts, explanation texts, persuasive texts, instructions, reports, recounts, poems, and stories.
• Pupils are encouraged to use their knowledge of phonics to sound out words and spell them using a letter mat.
• Some pupils use Communicate in Print symbols and shape coding to aid their writing.
• Some pupils will use iPads/Laptops to support them in producing extended pieces of writing

Math’s learning will be embedded into all that we do within Diamonds. From learning the days of the week to learning calculation strategies. Lesson will be devised from the Birmingham toolkit and will develop

• Pupils number and enquiry skills and will cover all areas of the National curriculum
• Pupils will have access to a differentiated maths lesson daily
• Pupils will have access to number sense on a daily basis
• Pupils will have access to maths activities within provision; including role play areas that promote maths learning

Makaton is used alongside communication mats to support pupils with their communication and social interaction skills. Pupils learn a new Makaton sign each day and are encouraged to use these throughout the week. Staff are trained to use Makaton. Pupils enjoy using the signs with their friends and showing their Mainstream peers what to do during a weekly signing assembly. We also use songs to help with practicing Makaton signing and look forward to performing the songs that we have learnt as part of our Music concert.

Some pupils within Diamonds enjoy participating in sensory activities. As a result, there is a small sensory room that the pupils can access when they need it or as part of provision. The room is filled with sensory toys and equipment and is a fabulous space for the children to use.

Ryegate House provides overnight short breaks for children and young people aged 0-19 with complex neuro-disabilities, multiple and profound physical and learning disabilities and life-limiting conditions.

The Sheffield Speech and Language Therapy Service work with children with speech, language, and communication needs, and/or eating, drinking, or swallowing difficulties, from 0 years to their 16th birthday.

The Autism Education Trust (AET) is now the Neuroinclusive Education Network (NEN), part of the National Autistic Society.

Through evidence-based training and collaboration, they help Local Authorities, Multi Academy Trusts (MATs), training organisations, schools and education professionals to create inclusive environments where every neurodivergent learner can thrive.