Woodlands Curriculum

Our curriculum has been designed from themes derived from the national curriculum. The curriculum is delivered through subject specific sessions and cross-curricular sessions, developed to support all students in accessing and progressing through skill and knowledge. The planning of the curriculum is a rolling 4-year cycle of topics to ensure full coverage for students throughout their KS2 journey at Pickhurst Academy. Our planning is regularly reviewed to ensure content is current and consistently effective for our learners Our curriculum is diverse, and learners are assessed according to their individual strengths and needs, their progression within core subjects is adapted by targets. Our curriculum aim is to develop pupil’s independence, resilience, communication and understanding, is the key to our achievements, supporting our students to have the tools they need to prepare them for the next steps in their lives.

• To have high expectations of all children with SEND, and to raise levels of attainment, progress and achievement.
• To innovate in curriculum development and develop a range of strategies to provide effective education for all children with SEND and facilitate their inclusion into the mainstream and school community.
• To provide high quality education and care for children and demonstrate expertise in working with children with communication needs, neurodevelopmental needs (including ASD) and other, moderate learning needs.
• To ensure effective partnership working between all stakeholders; school, the wider community, and health and social services.

The children within Woodlands follow one of three pathways – Inspire, Ignite and Immerse. The pathway journey is decided upon transition to Pickhurst. Our pathways are all linked to allow children to have multiple opportunities for combined learning through related topics. This also allows us to create a work environment with a multisensory approach. Our pathways offer topics that are in line with our mainstream curriculum to encourage inclusion opportunities across the school where appropriate.  The three pathways are Inspire, Ignite and Immerse which offer students different teaching approaches and structure to target their specific development to ensure progression in skill and knowledge.

The Inspire pathway which focuses to challenge and stretch students through clear progressive subjects which support their growth within all areas of development including EHCP targets. This curriculum is designed to allow children to develop their knowledge across a range of topics linked to their mainstream peers whilst supporting their individual development of key skills. Assessment targets used to ensure challenge and progression for individuals within core subjects. Core subjects are taught in Woodlands alongside Art, DT, PE and Music whereas students learn the other foundation subjects within their set mainstream inclusion class. Their mainstream inclusion class will remain the same throughout their time at Pickhurst Academy to ensure continuity.

The Ignite pathway, is designed to follow a topic-based curriculum which uses a small group learning approach to task. This supports children to build upon their understanding in a smaller setting environment, students have access to core subjects alongside the Ignite pathway but rather than attend sessions and activities based upon age-related curriculum, afternoons are spent on Topic based learning activities within the provision. This is a key pathway for students who rely upon structure, routine within a familiar and trusting environment. The opportunity for mainstream inclusion remains possible where appropriate.

The Immerse pathway, is designed to follow a topic-based curriculum which uses an engagement and foundation level approach to learning. This supports children to build upon their understanding in an engaging setting. The children will enjoy themed activities based upon similar topics to the other pathways but within activities which focus upon attention and engagement and are created to be child-specific in terms of learning outcome. Assessment targets are used to show challenge and progression through; engagement steps, the development matters assessment and progression steps. This is a core pathway to support sensory learners and learners who require support with engagement to tasks and interaction.

In Woodlands, we realise that learning takes place everywhere and an exceptional place to learn is outside our school within the wider community. Regular trips out of school to support understanding of the world and build upon independence is key.