Get in touch 01244 470134

About Our Classes

Pre-Formal Pathway

There is 1 Pre-Formal Pathway class: Ash

Ash

Please see our Ash Yearly Planning Overview for a detailed termly breakdown of delivery.

Ash is a mixed class of Key Stage 2 & 3 pre-formal and semi-formal pupils. Ash is class-based and follow the EQUALS Schemes of Work for both pre-formal and semi-formal pupils. The pupils on the semi-formal pathway also benefit from sensory input to support their regulation and learning and follow the pre-formal timetable with some lessons adapted to provide a greater level of challenge. Communication, problem solving and independence skills are promoted throughout the school day.

Pupils on the pre-formal pathway have complex needs and learn through a multi-sensory approach. There is a focus on whole-body communication, stimulating senses and developing early communication skills through Intensive Interaction.

The class is split into 2-3 groups for focus tasks, each led by an adult, with activities designed to meet the needs of the different pathways.

Semi-Formal Pathway

There are 7 Semi-Formal Pathway classes: Bay, Lime, Cedar, Fir, Birch, Laurel and Juniper

Bay

Please see our Bay Yearly Planning Overview for a detailed termly breakdown of delivery.

Bay is a mixed class of Key Stage 3 & 4 semi-formal pupils having a predominantly class-based curriculum based on the EQUALS Scheme of Work that enables pupils to develop their communication, independence and practical skills. The Key Stage 4 pupils access ASDAN accreditations such as Transition Challenge and Personal Progress. Pupils mainly work in one of three small ability groups across most activities each day, with an adult linked to each group. Time for social interaction, communication and independence is promoted and there are cognitive breaks when needed. Some pupils attend weekly intervention sessions to push further their functional cognition skills.

Lime

Please see our Lime Yearly Planning Overview for a detailed termly breakdown of delivery.

Lime is a Key Stage 3 class accessing a predominantly subject-specific, teacher-based curriculum on the EQUALS Scheme of Work that enables pupils to develop their communication, independence and practical skills. Pupils in Lime are typically working at the higher end of the EQUALS curriculum and access more formal Maths and English lessons. These pupils will access either Entry Level or ASDAN Personal Progress at Key Stage 4, depending on their development/progress.

Cedar

Please see our Cedar Yearly Planning Overview for a detailed termly breakdown of delivery.

Cedar is a Key Stage 3 classes having a predominantly class-based curriculum based on the EQUALS Scheme of Work that enables pupils to develop their communication, independence and practical skills. These pupils will access either ASDAN Transition Challenge or ASDAN Personal Progress at Key Stage 4, depending on their development/progress.

Fir

Please see our Fir Yearly Planning Overview for a detailed termly breakdown of delivery.

Fir is a Key Stage 3 class having a predominantly class-based curriculum based on the EQUALS Scheme of Work that enables pupils to develop their communication, independence and practical skills. These pupils will access either ASDAN Transition Challenge or ASDAN Personal Progress at Key Stage 4, depending on their development/progress.

Birch

Please see our Birch Yearly Planning Overview for a detailed termly breakdown of delivery.

Birch is a mixed class of Key Stage 4 & 5 pupils which follows a ‘semi-formal’ pathway that is designed to develop communication, independence, work and life skills. Learning activities take place both in the classroom and in the community where pupils have the opportunity to experience real life situations. These pupils complete ASDAN Personal Progress units (and/or OCR Life & Living Skills units). Emotional. social and well-being is supported by regular sessions of Zones of Regulation, off-site PE and enrichment activities.

Laurel

Please see our Laurel Yearly Planning Overview for a detailed termly breakdown of delivery.

Laurel is a class of Key Stage 4 pupils which follows a ‘semi-formal’ curriculum that is designed to develop practical, work and life skills. These pupils will access either Entry level and/or ASDAN Personal Progress units (and/or OCR Life & Living Skills units), depending on their development/progress.

Juniper

Please see our Juniper Yearly Planning Overview for a detailed termly breakdown of delivery.

Juniper is a class of Key Stage 4, Year 10 pupils which follows a ‘semi-formal’ curriculum designed to support pupils in reaching their full potential when moving into adulthood. This is done through focusing on Communication, Life Skills and Work Skills. Pupils complete ASDAN Personal Progress units. Each pupil’s emotional and social well-being is supported through PHSCE, Zones of Regulation and PE lessons.

Formal/Semi-Formal Pathway

There is 1 Formal/Semi-Formal Pathway mixed class: Elm/Oak

Please see our Elm/Oak Yearly Planning Overview for a detailed termly breakdown of delivery.

Elm

Elm is a Key Stage 4 class that follows a formal curriculum with the addition of Life Skills, work experience, careers and business enterprise. These pupils will complete Entry Level or GCSE courses across their subjects as appropriate.

Oak

Oak is a Key Stage 5 class, with a mix of formal and semi-formal curriculum learners. The curriculum is designed to develop practical, work and life skills with pupils completing OCR Life & Living Skills units. The Oak curriculum is designed to help prepare the learners for transition to college, therefore their timetable includes a half-day link visit to a local college and a half- day of work experience.

Enrichment

All pupils take part in Enrichment sessions once per week. Enrichment sessions are designed so that pupils are offered activities and concepts to engage them that are out of the constraints of the conventional curriculum. We believe that our pupils have the right to a diverse, rich and exciting curriculum. Enrichment sessions allow us to be creative in our approach to pupils’ learning and in the use of our many resources.

*In addition to traditional Literacy lessons, all pupils have a 20-minute Literacy slot Mon-Fri. This initiative is to give extra focus to Literacy across the school and is directed by the Literacy subject leader.

Residentials

Residential experiences are offered on a rota basis.