The Curriculum will enable all pupils to communicate their ideas, needs and wants, views and aspirations. They will grow and develop in a caring, supportive and challenging environment. They are expected to become responsible, respectful and compassionate individuals who behave well in society.

Pupils follow a skills based curriculum as set out in the EYFS curriculum. Prime areas for learning are communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development. These are supplemented by specific areas of literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts and design. Themes are drawn from the Primary curriculum map.

Learning objectives are taken from the National Curriculum and combined with therapy targets to ensure a holistic approach. We have a topic based approach, and a five year rolling programme ensuring coverage of all subjects. Many subjects, especially communication and computing skills, are cross curricular and taught throughout the day.

Where appropriate, pupils have access to discrete lessons under National Curriculum subject headings. The Curriculum lays out clearly the range of skills and the progression of knowledge to be covered within each subject. Pupils are assessed using our assessment system which is integrated into all pupils EHCPs. Where applicable, pupils are entered for public examinations and external accreditation, including ASDAN, GCSE, Entry and foundation level in various subjects.

Pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties are offered a sensory curriculum called Firm Foundations which recognises that this particular cohort have distinctly unique abilities and ways of learning, and are likely to remain within early developmental levels of learning throughout their school learning. We have recently had a separate classroom built which accommodates pupils who need more sensory areas of learning.  

Students aged between 16-19 at Southview College have a bespoke curriculum which prepares them in a variety of ways for their next steps. The curriculum is taught through seven strands; Communication, Functional Maths, Enterprise and Work Related Skills, Developing and Managing Relationships, Creative Development, Health and Well-being, and Community Links and Participation. All students have personalised targets in these areas which are discussed and set at their EHCP.

Life skills permeate the taught curriculum at all levels. Development of communication, independence and social skills are seen as vital components of the education we provide at Southview. Evidence of progress in these subjects is captured via our social skills assessment systems. Soft data is collected to evidence progress in areas not deemed as ‘academic’ e.g. confidence and sociability. As pupils progress through the school, there are opportunities to take part in work experience or to become part of the school council. This will help to develop confidence, initiative and problem solving skills.

Supplementing the curriculum, we have an afternoon per week devoted to enrichment, when physical skills in their broadest sense are worked on. Activities might include yoga, zumba, exploring sensory materials and developing fine and gross motor skills.  Pupils’ personal physical targets are worked on in a fun and targeted way under the advice of the physiotherapist and occupational therapist.

Parents and carers are partners in their child’s education. Some pupils take homework home at their parents’ request. Parents and carers who wish to help and encourage their children through homework are invited to discuss the work and approaches used with learning leaders. Homework might take the form of physiotherapy programmes or exercises from the relevant therapist

Where desirable and appropriate, developmental learning and social experiences are available in mainstream settings. We work collaboratively with other schools and organisations to include our students.

The organisation of the timetable is structured to suit the needs of pupils. Classes and activities are organised to reflect the abilities of the children, and a mix of individual, small group and whole class teaching takes place. The timetable will look different in each learning team and will reflect the curriculum being taught there.

There will be opportunities for pupils to work with relevant therapists such as Physiotherapists, Speech and language therapists, Music therapist, and Occupational therapists. Additionally, pupils may spend time in group or individual communication sessions with 1:1 support. The role of the ‘Physical wellbeing coordinator’ provides an essential link from therapies into classes and supports classes with individual programmes, equipment and resources.

Pupils may have access to some form of additional support, tutoring or intervention. This could be academic support in terms of preparing pupils for exams or it could be take the form of one to one sessions for pupils in receipt of Pupil Premium. We have a ‘Well being lead’ who carries out sessions with pupils to support them with their emotional wellbeing. We currently also provide horse riding lessons for targeted groups.

We are currently setting up a ‘Blended Learning’ team who are specifically supporting pupils who are unable to attend school for extended periods of time due to medical reasons. This role is being piloted this year.

Each class use their own age-appropriate systems to recognise and celebrate achievement. There are stickers from the Head teacher, and regular assemblies to share good work and success.

Pupils’ work is continuously monitored and assessed by learning teams. Progress is recorded and next steps identified. These are drawn from the curriculum and from targets discussed with parents/carers at annual review meetings of the EHCP. Targets are displayed around the classroom and discussed with support staff and also pupils themselves where appropriate.

The whole school, including parents/carers, staff and pupils have recently contributed to creating a new curriculum within Key Stages 1-4, making it even more relevant and innovative. Learning leads are responsible for their class targets, but also, in some cases, lead a subject across school. They will keep abreast of new developments in their subject, and have an understanding of how their subject is taught at all levels across the school. They will be aware of where data shows strengths and weaknesses in their subject, and have a plan on how to address this, either through supporting themselves or through external continued professional development courses.