Nursery - Superworm!

Our topic book for the new term is Superworm. You can listen to the story by clicking on the following link: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC4JRPRNO60 

We made Superworm sock puppets to support our role play.





We created paper chain Superworms using our fine motor skills.



We painted worm pictures exploring colour and texture.

Ear Defenders

Ear Defenders

Children (and adults) with autism or sensory processing disorders often have a hard time in noisy environments. Background noise can be a nuisance and interrupt concentration and focus, and sudden loud noises can cause stress and anxiety for those who are hypersensitive to noise for any reason. Sometimes particular sounds or frequencies can even cause acute pain for those who have hyperacusis.

Listening to music through earplugs can give children control over external noise that they may find problematic. Using noise cancelling headphones, or Ear Defenders, can help children to block out unwanted noise, while still being able to hear normal conversations, and so maintaining concentration in class without excess noise causing anxiety.

Some examples of when Ear Defenders may be helpful during the school day are:

• During singing assembly
• When the fire alarm is tested
• Music lessons
• The lunch hall
• On a school trip, using public transport
• Plays and performances
• Sports day
• To cancel out external noises, such as nearby building works
• And many more examples!

Bannockburn has recently received a hugely beneficial donation of enough ear defenders for one set in each class from Nursery through to Year 6, from the company Ems for Kids who were incredibly helpful in supporting us and providing the ear defenders at no cost to the school. We will be sending home brochures from Ems for Kids (please check your child's book-bag) for you to see their whole product range, as well as discount vouchers if you choose to order items for use at home.

We are delighted to have the Ear Defenders now readily available in each classroom, for any pupil to use at times when they might experience difficulties with noise.

Spelling Bee Finalists

On Thursday 30th March the Spring Term Spelling Bee Finals took place across both High St and Manor Way. Lots of children have spent the last few weeks learning a wide variety of tricky words.

Bannockburn Bistro - Manor Way Site

Today's invitees to the Bannockburn Bistro on the Manor Way site.

Achievement Assemblies

A huge well done to all the children who were celebrated in today's Achievement Assemblies across both sites. 

High St Achievement Assembly

Manor Way Achievement Assembly

Walnut Tree's Creative Homework

Willy Wonka Hats

In Literacy we have been reading Charlie and the Chocolate factory. As part of Year 3 homework, the children were set the task of creating their very own Willy Wonka hat!

Walnut Tree Class took on this challenge and created some amazing and imaginative examples!

Here are some of the children modelling their hats...

Can you spot the hats which have used real sweets?

World Autism Awareness Week

World Autism Awareness Week

27th March-2nd April 2017

World Autism Awareness Week (WAAW) is celebrated every year around the globe, as a way of increasing awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders, and helping everybody to understand what this means. 

At Bannockburn, we have marked the occasion by holding special assemblies in each class to explain what autism is and for children to have time to discuss and ask questions.

One of the pieces of information shared with children was about statistics and how it is more than likely that children will have others within their class who are autistic.

•Over 1 in every 100 people are on the autism spectrum, which means there are around 140,000 school age children in the UK on the spectrum.

•Of these 140,000 children, the vast majority attend mainstream schools, which means that most children will have at least one autistic classmate during their time at school.

We have also encouraged staff around the school to think about autism and to create a working wall in each staffroom to share ideas, book recommendations, and useful links.

Some links which you might find helpful at home to learn more about autism and ASD are:

What is Autism?

Real life experiences and advice

Autism Awareness video clip for kids

If you would like to find out more please come and speak to one of the Inclusion Team.