Wednesday 13 November 2013

Firework In-Reach

Last year for Bonfire Night we made a mess in the Oasis with paint. This year we thought making a mess in the kitchen might be fun...and tasty!
 
Our plan was to make firework biscuits, decorated with colourful and tactile 'things' (all edible).
 
 

 
Giving children with a visual impairment hands-on real-life experiences is an important element to their education and development. Opportunities to practice living skills not only provides the children a broader educational experience...
 


..but also encourages social interaction.
 


The children's cooperation and collaboration produced some brilliant results.
 


All of the children were incredibly focused and thoroughly enjoyed getting stuck in!
 


Parent participation was compulsory!
 







For our Reg. blind pupils the tactile experience of handling, rolling and shaping the biscuit dough was really fun and stimulated some good vocabulary.
 



 

 
For our partially sighted participants the chance to spend time making their biscuits 'just right' was used well.
 




 
Providing the children with a structured work-place with clearly organised resources, combined with adult support meant that a brilliant afternoon was spent making very tasty biscuit...all of which were taken home....


 
Thank you to all of our participants, parents, visitors and guests. We will hopefully see you in December for our Christmas Celebration.
 

 

 

 

Monday 11 November 2013

VIP Club Visit to Barnfields

On Wednesday 6th November the staff and children of Kings Copse Oasis braved the elements to visit 'Barnfields' which is a part of Manor Country Park.
  This was our once a term adventure out from school to visit somewhere interesting and stimulating to the senses, and where better than a wet and windy park full of puddles! 


There was lots of puddle jumping and splashing. The sensation of the mud underfoot caused lots of giggles.
A good 'trek' into the woods, exploring sweet chestnuts, wild mushrooms (no touching), oak leaves and 'Which tree is a Beech?', was followed by an exploration of the activity park.
The group sensation of swinging back and forth caused great laughter and challenged the children to be in control of their balance, whether sitting or standing.
 The park had a 'Trim-trail' which these two children were determined to complete...
 ...oops...one foot down...
But they got there in the end, with a tiny bit of help.
 Some of the Park's musical instruments were played well with a stick...
...or an umbrella!
The 'Bucket Swing' was the favourite attraction....when shared with a friend...
 ...a few friends...
 ...or just about everyone!!!
 
The children and staff all returned to Kings Copse very muddy and tired.
We had a great time :)
 It is through providing guided first hand experiences that we widen our children's knowledge and understanding of the world around them. They also provide a brilliant opportunity to foster and encourage friendships and VI peer relationships.
 
 
 
 

Monday 21 October 2013

Read For RNIB Day

On Friday 18th October, the staff and pupils of Kings Copse Primary School dressed up as their favourite book character and took part in a 'book themed' day to raise money for the RNIB.

 
There were cat's in hats, super heroes, pirates and princesses!
 
 
Even an Umpa-lumpa!!!
 
 
 
Natalie Hargreaves from the RNIB came to lead assembly. She told us all about the important work that the RNIB do for blind and visually impaired people.
 
 
The children faced a range of reading and story linked activities through the day.
 
 
 Including a sponsored read raising money for the RNIB...
 

 
Being read a story by another teacher (i.e. not their own)
 
 
Transforming their classroom doors into a book cover...
 

 The Very Hungry Caterpillar...


Funny Bones...
 

 
Winnie the Pooh...
 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory...
 


Mr Gum...
 

 
and George's Marvelous Medicine.
 

In the afternoon parents came into school to share a book with their child and some friends.
 

 
 
 
It was a very enjoyable day and to date has helped to raise over £500 for RNIB.
Thank you to all parents and pupils for their enthusiasm and generosity.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday 26 September 2013

Nurse!!

We were very fortunate last week to have a Student Nurse come to the Oasis for a placement. The Oasis provides many such placement's to a variety of establishments ranging from final teaching placements for VI teachers to experiential placement for Guide Dog trainers who are beginning to work with school aged children.
Of course we could not look down the chance for some first hand experiences for our VI pupils.
Children with a visual impairment may spend a lot of time in hospital waiting for eye appointments and so forth but may never get the opportunity to ask simple questions about what people do and the equipment they use. Luckily our visitor this week was more then happy to bring in her uniform and some equipment (stethoscope, bandages etc...) and answer some questions about her job.

But then disaster struck! There were injuries everywhere!!!
 

 
But it was ok...the medical staff on hand put on protective clothing...
 

 
...applied triage where necessary....
 



 
 ...and checked patients blood pressure.
 

The children were really fascinated by the way the torch lit up the inside of this poor patient's mouth...'it was on fire!'
 

 
By the end of the afternoon everyone had recovered in time for a nice drink!
 

Thank You !!

...to our Student visitor, you gave our children a brilliant first hand experience, they loved exploring the equipment you brought in and asking you questions, as well as wrapping each other in bandages!!!