Special
Educational
Needs

Theme: Into the Wild

 

Duration: 10 Days  

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Aim: Provide a sensory and adapted art-making experience that allows service users to explore colour mixing, texture, and personal expression through themed artworks, culminating in a collaborative mural and individual self-portraits juxtaposed with animal textures.

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Learning Outcomes:

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Sensory Engagement: Participants will engage with various sensory stimuli (sight, touch, sound) to connect with the safari theme.

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Skills Development: Participants will utilise their fine and gross motor skills when using adapted tools and materials provided.

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Creative Expression: Participants will express their personal preferences when creating their final artefacts, achieved by providing a range of materials and various demonstrated techniques.

 

Teamwork and Collaboration: Participants will contribute to a collaborative mural, fostering a sense of and shared accomplishment.

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Reflection: 

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Some of the challenges I faced were the self doubt when initiating the SEN block and how I would approach materialising ideas and concepts best suitable for these service users, another challenge I faced was how to engage in hand over hand/ hand under hand. As I didn't want to disrupt them but with help of staff and relying on physical cues I began to feel more confident. 

The Service Users and staff were extremely welcoming and helpful over the course of  the placement, As majority of the SU were non-verbal over time I began to understand their signs/cues of communication from them especially when they were excited/engaged or hesitant. I found this very insightful and a skill to be acknowledged more throughout my future teaching practice. I found the use of tangible examples to be really beneficial when creating the visual link - giraffe stencil - giraffe toy. I also found that this experience allowed me to gain a greater insight and understanding of AEN/SEN and how I might use similar methods and teaching strategies when on my next mainstream placement block in terms of differentiation etc. Overall this experience was an eye opening experience and it was an absolute  pleasure to work with the them, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.