Curriculum Pathways
“If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way that they learn.”
Until now we have delivered an adapted version of the National Curriculum. This curriculum was designed with neuro-typical children in mind and assumes that students will have achieved age appropriate milestones prior to starting school. We recognise that this is not the case for our students, who all have very different starting points and that many of them will continue to work at levels below the starting point of the National Curriculum for their entire school career. It is a linear developmental model, which relies on students continuing to build on prior abstract concepts, whereas we know that our students need real concrete learning experiences in order to develop the essential and meaningful skills that will equip them to be independent as adults.
Following an INSET day in June 2019, staff and students at Foreland Fields have begun a journey towards developing a new and “outstanding curriculum” for our “exceptional learners”.
Our curriculum has been influenced by the work of Peter Imray and his ongoing support, the work of Dr. Penny Lacey and the curricula of outstanding special schools.
Children’s Rights
Foreland Fields School is a Rights Respecting School. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, is at the heart of all our policies and practice.
Every child has the right to an education that develops their talents and abilities to the full.
(Article 29)
Every child has the right to be safe
(Articles 32-39)
Every child has the right to a voice
(Article 12)
Every child has the right to the best possible health
(Article 24)
Our Aims:
- to provide a personalised learning journey with aspirational outcomes for each student.
- to provide a curriculum that develops the individual talents and abilities of students to enable our students to lead a safe, healthy and happy adult life with as much independence as possible.
- to equip our students with the skills to access the community and to be valued within it.
- ensure that every student develops a “voice” and that they are listened to.
Our Intent – What we will Teach
We will provide personalised pathways for each student through a curriculum that includes:
Our Implementation – How we will Deliver the Curriculum
We have chosen to develop 5 distinct pathways, each with a distinct approach and curriculum to reflect the diverse needs of our pupils.
