Our ‘Functional’ Learners are those pupils with moderate and other SEND identified needs such as ADHD, Autism and/or speech, language and communication difficulties. 

For these pupils, the aim is to provide an adapted version of the National Curriculum which will challenge our most able pupils to build on and extend their knowledge in core subject areas and additional subject specific areas whilst still developing the broader social skills needed to thrive and be fully prepared for their next steps.

- Support pupils to develop and apply relevant academic knowledge to a wide range of contexts  

- Support pupils to become confident communicators across a range of settings  

- Promote personal, social emotional and cultural development 

- Develop functional adaptive life skills to promote independence  

- Promote active involvement in community experiences and provide cultural capital  

- Lead to formal qualifications where applicable  

- Support pupils into mainstream Post 16 settings  

- Support learners to develop employability skills via vocational subjects  

Aspects of this more ‘Functional’ Pathway use a range of methods and approaches best suited to the pupils’ learning and development needs including: 

- Focussed formal subject specific lessons for core subjects and other subject specific areas of the curriculum  

- An adapted National Curriculum offering highly adapted learning where necessary

- Formal lessons with opportunities to apply knowledge across a range of contexts  

- Experiential and concrete learning opportunities 

Pupils’ accessing the more formal aspects of the curriculum are initially assessed using a range of in-house and professional assessments to determine their specific curriculum goals. This provides our most cognitively able pupils with a sequenced and aspirational curriculum that stretches their knowledge, understanding and skills.  

Pupils’ progress is evaluated using our in-house assessment tool which monitors their formal learning against an adapted version of the National Curriculum. All pupils (who can!) are expected to achieve formalised and meaningful accreditation in a range of subject areas. In addition, the pupils' progress on their personalised outcomes is evaluated against the outcomes set on their Education, Health and Care Plan. 

Our curriculum prepares these pupils for the next stage in their education, training and/or future employment and for life beyond school! 

 

Our Functional Curriculum will:

✓  Embed “sticky knowledge” across a range of contexts and within employment and PfA  opportunities

✓ Enable pupils to achieve meaningful formal accreditation in core/wider subject areas   

✓ Develop positive social relationships, within school, home and the wider community 

✓ Embrace and develop a range of social, communication, interaction and practical skills, empowering pupils to become active learners and active, confident members of their community 

✓ Give opportunities to apply academic subject knowledge within functional literacy and numeracy skills and across the wider curriculum

✓ Develop confidence in learners and celebrate achievements 

✓ Develop communication skills so that pupils can independently communicate their likes and dislikes, feelings, hopes and aspirations for the future  

✓ Enable pupils to make friends, make active choices and develop a sense of belonging within the wider community  

✓ Teach and develop pupils to understand and make choices that support safe and healthy lifestyles