Curriculum Overview

First School (Ladybird Cluster)

First School (Ladybird Cluster) is made up of the youngest students in the school, from Nursery through to Year 4.

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. The EYFS consists of seven areas of learning and development. All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected. Three areas are particularly crucial; these are the prime areas for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and be independent. The prime areas are: Communication and Language; Physical Development and Personal, Social and Emotional Development. There are also four specific areas through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied. The specific areas are: Literacy; Mathematics; Understanding the world and Expressive Arts and Design.

In First School we follow the Cornerstones for our topics.  This curriculum is also the basis of our project based learning; an active and child centred approach to support engagement and increase a student's ability to engage in subject specific activities and sessions.

We use the Characteristics of Effective Learning model, alongside our Golden Rules, to celebrate and promote individuals' attitudes to learn.  We have a strong emphasis on learning through play throughout and our planning and teaching is guided by the student's current interests.  Our weekly timetable ensures that phonics, mathematics, swimming and physical development are also embedded, as well as the student's individual therapy programmes.

 

Middle School (Penguin, Puffin and Usborne Clusters)

Middle School is made up of Year Groups 5-9. The classes are grouped according to student need and communication style. The curriculum delivers cross-curricular project based learning with the addition of Literacy, Maths and Real/MAT PE.

Project-based learning is a student-centred teaching method involving a dynamic classroom approach. It is believed that students acquire a deeper knowledge through active exploration of real-world challenges and problems. Our students gain knowledge and transferable skills by working for an extended period of time (a long term) to investigate and respond to an engaging and complex project, problem, or challenge. As a result, they develop deep content subject knowledge as well as critical thinking, creativity and communication skills in the context of a termly project.

Our projects are based around the Enabling Enterprise’s Skills Builder.  They develop the essential skills of our students such as Listening, Presenting, Problem solving, Creativity, Staying positive, Aiming High, Leadership and Teamwork. Subjects covered throughout the projects are English, Maths, Science, Humanities, PSHE and RE.  PSHE and RE are also covered through assemblies and diversity celebrations throughout the academic year.

Physical development is delivered through the Real PE programme that focuses on fundamental movement. The areas covered are Physical, Social, Personal, Health and Fitness, Cognitive and Creative to encourage cross curricular learning. Physical development is also promoted through therapy targets.

 

TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE - PUFFIN

Year	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3
2019 - 2020	Brilliant Books	Construction Counts	Board Games
2020 - 2021	Trash to Treasure	Brilliant Bakes	Going Green
2021 - 2022	Number Crunching	Dream Space	Legal Eagles
2022 - 2023	Breaking News	Gallery Opening	Food, Glorious Food
2023 - 2024	Fabulous Fashions	Doing good	Making Changes
2024 - 2025	Design Company	Free to be Me	Special Delivery

 

INDEPENDENCE - PENGUIN

Year	Term 1	Term 3	Term 4
2019 - 2020	Board Games	Brilliant Books	Construction Counts
2020 - 2021	Brilliant Bakes	Going Green	Trash to Treasure
2021 - 2022	Dream Space	Legal Eagles	Number Crunching
2022 - 2023	Making Changes	Food, Glorious Food	Breaking News
2023 - 2024	Doing Good	Making changes	Fabulous Fashions
2024 - 2025	Special Delivery	Design Company	Free to be Me

 

SPECIALIST - USBORNE

Year	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3
2019 - 2020	Construction Counts	Board Games	Brilliant Books
2020 - 2021	Going Green	Trash to Treasure	Brilliant Bakes
2021 - 2022	Legal Eagles	Number Crunching	Dream Space
2022 - 2023	Food, Glorious Food	Breaking News	Making Changes
2023 - 2024	Making Changes	Fabulous Fashions	Doing Good
2024 - 2025	Free to be Me	Special Delivery	Design Company

Students are assessed on Earwig on their specific outcomes.

As we are a nurturing school we regularly assess our students’ emotional well-being using the Boxall Profile.

 

Upper School (Oxford, Phoenix and Orchard Clusters)

Upper School is made up of Year Groups 10-14. The classes are grouped according to student need and communication style.

With the emphasis on preparing them for adulthood, students have the opportunity to participate in work experience on-site. Opportunities involve working in the school café, reception, administration office and facilities.

Upper School delivers a diverse curriculum based on the students’ destination. We introduced a specially designed Life Skills based curriculum that delivers a holistic, cross curricular approach with four key areas such as kitchen skills, personal skills, home management, accessing the community and independent travel alongside functional communication, reading, writing and maths where appropriate.

The framework is differentiated to meet the needs of the students; most areas of learning also link to various accredited or certificated units/models which are being submitted for certification on a regular basis.

Topics such as Diversity, Internet and road safety, RSE and stranger danger are important and being covered through the curriculum.

Students are assessed on Earwig on their specific outcomes in preparation for adulthood.

As we are a nurturing school we regularly assess our students’ emotional well-being using the Boxall Profile.

 

Courses available to students at KS4

• Functional Skills / Entry Level Certificate in English and Maths
• ASDAN - Short Courses, Towards Indpendence, New Horizons, Transition Challenge (Progression/Sensory), My Independence
• AQA Unit Awards
• Kitchencraft
• ECDL
• Laser Awards
• Art Award