Emeralds

At Beacon Academy we know that children all learn in different ways. To support our children with special educational needs that require a different approach to learning in KS2, Beacon Academy offers a bespoke curriculum called ‘Emeralds Class’. The aim of Emeralds it to ensure that the children can read, write and solve maths questions by the time they leave the class as these are vital life skills for their future.

Meet the Emeralds Team

Hi, I am Mrs Maddison. I have been a teacher for over 15 years and have been SENDCO and Assistant Headteacher at Beacon for the last 8 years. We set up Emeralds 3 years ago to ensure that all children were able to access education in a way that was bespoke for them to learn. I am very passionate about supporting children with Special Educational Needs to achieve their very best and I am very lucky to have such a great ream and wonderful children around me to do this.

Hi, I am Mrs Butler.  I'm a Makaton trained Learning Support Assistant.   My passion is supporting our SEND children and celebrating their achievements. I'm absolutely thrilled to be based in our Emeralds Class again this year. We're a small, friendly class that works at our own pace, enabling the children to develop in a way that suits them, but, the best bit, we always have lots of fun together! I love to see the progress that the children make in Emeralds and share in their successes.  

Hi, I am Mrs Knox. I have chosen to work in Emeralds as I am passionate about making a positive difference in the children's lives and helping them to reach their full potential. I bring a strong set of qualities to my role, this includes patience, reliability, and my ability to work as a team. I am able to effectively work with colleagues, families, and other professionals to provide consistent support. I am committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and encouraging environment for every child in Emeralds and love to see the progress that they make.

Working in Partnership with Parents

As a staff team, we believe we can more effectively meet your child’s needs if we work together. We value your input as your child’s primary carer, and as an expert on your child. We rely on your partnership, so together we can provide your child with the highest quality education and care. This will make their time at school happy and enjoyable.

Every morning, staff are available at the entrances into school for you to pass on quick messages or ask questions. If you need a more private moment, or need to speak to your child’s teacher at length, you are very welcome to make an appointment via email or telephone.

Communication

To speak to Mrs Maddison directly please email emeralds@beacon.lhmat.com

This email address will be used to communicate with you so please check it regularly.

The Curriculum                                                                                            

We focus on Reading, Writing and Maths in Emeralds and your child will return to their main classroom in the afternoon to access the wider curriculum.

For Reading, we know that by the time the children have reached Emeralds, phonics has not been the most successful way for them to learn to read. Instead, we follow a whole word reading program called ‘Words First’. Your child will be sent home with a set of cards with the new words that are learning as well as their staged reading book. Please do as much work as you can at home with them on these to help them with their progress. Maybe put the words on the fridge and ask them to read you one each time they walk past – it does not have to be hours of homework!

For Writing, we will be building up sentences and doing lots of spelling games and activities. We will base our first term’s writing on a book called ‘You Choose’. This book has great opportunities for discussion, speech and language development, exciting activities and writing prompts. Any opportunities you have at home to encourage your children to write, please do.

In Maths, we will follow the whole school program of ‘Big Maths’, but will do a lot of our lessons more practically using objects to help us count. Please support your child by practicing counting around the home: counting up the steps; looking at the clock or naming shapes and their properties.