Welcome to the Ladybirds class page. We are an EYFS SEND class, supporting children through a play-based, sensory-rich curriculum tailored to individual needs.

Spring Term Overview

The overview for this term is uploaded on this class page. This outlines the learning content that will be covered during the Spring term.

If you have any questions about the overview or your child’s learning, please feel free to get in touch by email or phone.

Sami-Leigh and the Ladybirds Team xx

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Our termly overview - Spring 2026

Class Life & Learning

Below are photographs of our learning spaces and surrounding environments:

Staff Team

(At Brookfields School, children and parents address staff using their first names.)

Sami-Leigh – Class Teacher
Alicia – Teaching Assistant
Karen – Teaching Assistant
Jess – Teaching Assistant
Molly – Teaching Assistant
Sarah Winder – HLTA / Covering teacher during Sami-Leigh’s PPA (every other Tuesday.

Pupils

Reception / EYFS / KS1 (Year 1)

Home Learning & Activities

Hello Ladybirds children and families,

The activities listed below can be used for home learning, homework, or holiday ideas, should you choose to engage with any of the suggestions.

You will also find activities to try at home on:

Other class pages (Butterflies, Hedgehogs, or Bumblebees – age appropriate)
The Home Learning section of the school website

Take care,
Sami-Leigh and the Ladybirds Team xxx

Routine Songs

Here are some links to our routine songs that we use regularly in class:

Good Morning – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuI_p7a9VGs
Good Afternoon – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZsYYrTI_nc
Goodbye – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LDArAJf7-c

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Contact

Sami-leigh.freeman@bfs.set.org

Communication Support for Parents

Helping your child express themselves in meaningful ways
At Brookfields, we understand that communication looks different for every child. Many of our pupils are non-verbal, and we focus on building meaningful ways for them to express themselves. Below are practical activities and tips for home learning.

Routines Boards

What it is: Visual boards that show single-step actions to help your child learn and understand
Example: Brushing teeth – each step illustrated with a picture.
Parent Tip: Use clear, simple images and repeat routines consistently.

Resources:

https://widgitonline.com/en/home

Sharing

What it is: Encourage your child to communicate when they want a toy back using:

Symbols
Sign language
Vocalisations
Body language

Games: Mr Potato Head, Pop-Up Pirate, tea set play

Parent Tip: Praise every attempt at communication. Short, frequent sessions work best.

Resources:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/tool-kit

See and Say / Communication

What it is: Introduce verbal communication through animal sounds.
How to do it: Hold a toy animal, make its sound, and say its name aloud. Encourage your child to imitate.

Resources:

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Modeling Emotions

What it is: Take turns modeling emotions using pictures or mirrors: happy, sad, angry, hurt.
Parent Tip: Mirror play helps children connect facial expressions to feelings.

Sensory Bags

What it is: Encourages exploration, coordination, and focus using different textures.
Materials: Rice, flour, pasta, water beads, small toys.

Parent Tip: Supervise for safety and encourage exploration with open-ended questions.

Maths at Home – Numbers & Shapes

Helping your child explore numbers, counting, and shapes in fun, practical ways
At Brookfields, we know that maths can be hands-on, visual, and playful. These activities are designed to support children, particularly non-verbal pupils, in exploring early numeracy and shapes at home.

Number Activities

1. Count Your Blocks
Lay out your building blocks and count how many you have.

Challenge: Add or remove blocks and count again to see how many are left.
Use colourful blocks or objects from around the house.

2. Number Rhymes & Songs
Sing together to develop number awareness and memory:

5 Little Ducks
5 Speckled Frogs
10 Green Bottles
5 Currant Buns

3. Write Numbers at Home
Use tactile materials to make learning hands-on:

Flour, foam, or paint in a tray
Trace numbers with your finger

4. Ordering Numbers

Start with numbers 1–5, then 1–10
Write numbers on paper, cut them out, and arrange in order
Use objects alongside numbers for visual support

5. Count Physical Actions

Count jumps, stomps, or star jumps while doing the action
Encourages gross motor skills along with numeracy

Digital Resources for Home:

Shape Activities

1. Learn Shapes with Mister Maker
Watch the Mister Maker Shape Episode and explore shapes in your environment.

2. Shape Songs
Sing along with fun songs to reinforce shape names:

3. Explore Shapes at Home
Look around your house or garden:

Round: clock, plate
Square: window
Rectangle: door
Talk about the shape names while you explore

4. Mark Making Shapes
Use flour, foam, or paint to draw different shapes with your finger.

5. Shape Sorters & Play

Practice picking up and posting shapes
Encourages fine motor skills and shape recognition

6. Shape Art & Crafts

With adult support, mark make different shapes from paper and use them to make pictures
Talk about each shape as you create

Printable Resources for Home:

Twinkl Shape Colouring Activities

Animals & Their Habitats – Exploring the Natural World

Helping your child learn about animals and where they live
At Brookfields, we know that learning about animals can be fun, hands-on, and multi-sensory. Many children are non-verbal, so we focus on exploration through play, observation, and simple activities that build understanding and communication.

Meet the Animals

Introduce your child to a variety of animals. You can use:

Soft toys or figurines
Animal books with clear, simple pictures
Videos or songs about animals

Activity Ideas:

Name the animals together as you play: “This is a lion. The lion goes roar!”
Make animal sounds and encourage your child to copy or gesture

Resources:

BBC Bitesize: Animals – simple facts and pictures

Explore Habitats

Explain that animals live in different places called habitats. Some examples:

Forest – owls, foxes, deer
Ocean – fish, dolphins, crabs
Farm – cows, sheep, chickens
Desert – camels, lizards, snakes

Activity Ideas:

Match animal toys or pictures to their habitats
Create sensory habitat trays (sand for desert, water for ocean, leaves for forest)

Resources:

BBC Bitesize: Habitats

Animal Movement & Sounds

Learning about how animals move or sound helps develop observation and communication:

Hop like a frog, crawl like a snake, flap like a bird
Make animal sounds together and encourage imitation

Activity Ideas:

Use songs like “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”
Play animal movement games in the garden or living room

Animal Crafts & Sensory Play

Hands-on activities help children understand animals and habitats:

Make animal masks from paper plates or card
Create sensory trays for each habitat (e.g., sand, leaves, water, cotton wool for clouds)
Sort animals into their habitats with picture cards or toys

Parent Tip: Encourage curiosity and celebrate attempts at naming, making sounds, or pointing to animals. Use simple, clear language and gestures to support understanding.

Nursery rhymes support us to develop rhyme patterns, sequence events and join in with words, actions or intonation. Please see the links below for the songs and signing versions - we will learn simple signs as we sing.

What is your child's favourite nursery rhyme?

Here are some of our favourite rhymes: