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Curriculum Policy |
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Version |
1.1 |
Review Date |
June 2022 |
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Review Cycle |
Triennially |
Review Due |
June 2025 |
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Author / Owner |
Hannah Parry |
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Vision
‘Our curriculum gives our pupils broad and balanced opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills in preparation for life beyond school. The curriculum promotes pupils’ academic and personal development and enables pupils to develop their independence to take their next steps with confidence and resilience to cope with their new challenges.’
We strive to make learning a pleasurable and rewarding experience enabling all pupils to develop a high standard of achievement as well as being challenged to become as independent as possible. Together we provide opportunities for every child within school and in the wider community to grow in confidence and develop a love of learning. At Winchelsea we see the curriculum as the sum of every activity and experience, both formal and informal, encountered during the day.
Aims:
Curriculum Intent
Winchelsea School provides an education for pupils aged from four to sixteen years of age, and jointly with Poole and Bournemouth from 16 – 18 years. All pupils have an Education Health Care Plan in place and therefore, the curriculum is planned to recognise and support the individual learning needs by differentiated tasks to ensure learning opportunities are both challenging and appropriate to all pupils.
Curriculum Pathways
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EXPLORERS |
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EARLY DISCOVERERS |
EARLY ENQUIRERS |
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DISCOVERERS |
ENQUIRERS |
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DISCOVERERS KS 4 |
ENQUIRERS KS 4 |
Explorers Pathway - Ocean and Harbour Class.
The Foundation and Early Years team place a high value on parent partnerships and use the information gathered from discussions with parents to make sure that the curriculum is tailored to meet individual pupils needs.
All areas of the curriculum are delivered through a balance of adult led, adult initiated and child initiated learning (CiL) activities. Communication and play based learning is paramount and pupils experience a variety of learning opportunities from carefully planned sessions.
In Year 1 pupils follow a bridging curriculum. We recognise that many pupils will need further opportunities to develop skills towards their Early Learning Goals, we therefore continue to cover the Early Years framework as well as moving them on to the next stage of learning. During this year we are preparing pupils to enter either the Discoverer’s Pathway for a life skills approach to learning or the Enquirers Pathway for more subject specific learning.
For subject specific information see Curriculum handbook.
Early Enquirers Pathway - Penguins Class
This curriculum provides subject specific learning at its very early stages. We have placed a greater emphasis on the learning of PSHE, Foundation Motor Skills and Phonics as well as giving pupils the opportunity to have lots of practical opportunities to learn. My World will often take place through visits out in the community and there are some opportunities to experience cooking.
Enquirers Pathway - Sea Lions, Sea Turtles, Seals, Manatees and Lobsters.
This follows the sequence of learning from the Early Enquirers curriculum and pupils will now also receive lessons in Careers.
Enquirers Accreditation Pathway – Seahorses, Manta and Orca
Pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11 follow accredited subjects based on their ability to support their next steps into Post 16.
Pupils will take Functional Skills Exams in English and Maths and complete a range of accreditations from the LASER AWARD across the wider curriculum subjects: PSHE, ICT and Careers. They will also gain the LEAP Award through the option choice they select. In Art pupils will achieve the Arts Award and have the opportunity to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and complete PE Entry Level.
Discoverers Pathway: Oysters, Starfish, Octopus, Jellyfish and Coral
Pupils continue to develop foundation skills and will do this life through a practical and life relevant approach to learning. This curriculum has a big emphasis on language and communication. It is comprised of five areas:
My Communication
My Thinking and Problem Solving
My Physical and Sensory (including Forest Schools)
My Creativity
My World around me.
Threaded through the five strands are Independence Skills.
Post 16 Pathway – Extended Enquirers
Pupils staying in Post 16 continue to work on qualifications and skills developed in KS 4, the focus is very practical, with greater links to the community.
Personal Development
Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural (SMSC) opportunities are embedded throughout the curriculum, and specifically in the subjects of RE and PSHE.
Our SMSC calendar enable us to consider a variety of important World national, and local events during school assemblies, as well as Religious events that are sometimes supported by visitors to enhance pupil learning and understanding. Pupils of any faith and those of no faith are encouraged to value everyone and their beliefs equally. Shared assembly times also enable us to focus on celebration, opportunities for pupils to take part in assemblies as well as sharing our thematic topic.
Winchelsea is a Rights Respecting School and these values are clearly present through lessons and the school rewarding system and in assemblies.
CURRICULUM CONTENT
See Assessment, recording and reporting policy.
PERSONALISED LEARNING PLANS (PLPs)
PLP’s are written at the start of Year 10 and reviewed at the end of each term, though information may be completed and renewed at any time. The PLP demonstrates what the pupils have been involved in and the qualifications they are working towards or have achieved.
CAREERS
A program is set up to deliver careers education to students from Year 7 - 11 following the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Gatsby Benchmark. Pupils receive a Careers Interview with an Independent Careers Advisor from Year 9 to Year 11. In Years 10 – 11 pupils attend work experience for up to a week, some pupils may take part in extended work experience if this is seen as appropriate.
See Careers policy.
PLAY
Our Play program, implemented by the Speech and Language team, runs at lunchtime to give pupils the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities that extend their learning and develop their play skills, attention and predominantly their social skills.
LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
At Winchelsea School we recognise the importance of learning outside the classroom and in the community. This reinforces the work we do in school and helps our pupils to contextualise their learning. Pupils all have opportunities to swim at the local sports centre, attend Forest School off-site and visit local areas through their thematic learning and life skills work. We also invite musicians, storytellers, sports coaches and theatre groups into school. A three day overnight residential is offered to Year 10 and 11 pupils in the summer term.
The community provides a great place in which to generalise and transfer new and emerging skills. We are always interested in increasing the type of experiences that we can expose the children to as well as working with many partners in support of the development of community cohesion.
In addition to this, pupils have access to a number of targeted opportunities that support them in overcoming potential barriers to their learning.
THERAPUETIC SUPPORT
SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY
Pupils have access Speech and Language Therapy through the curriculum at all times. Therapists support teachers to use strategies in class to develop pupil communication skills as well as targeted therapy where relevant. Speech and Language Teaching Assistants also help to run programs in class, working closely with Speech and Language Therapists and class teams.
(See handbook for further information)
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Pupils can be referred for Occupational Therapy (OT) support and following an assessment, pupils will may receive some therapy, guidance to school and home or strategies to support their needs can be implemented by the OT Teaching Assistant. The OT helps to run whole class programmes to support areas of need related to OT and this will be implemented by the OT assistants in conjunction with the Occupational Therapist.
ELSA
Small group and 1:1 sessions are offered to support pupils across the school with our ELSA trained member of staff. (This is done in consultation with the Pupil Participation Team).
CURRICULUM SUPPORT
ENGLISH
Pupils can be given further support in English. This is identified by the class teacher and a referral made. Support generally takes place in small groups in class, focusing on developing reading, phonics and comprehension skills.
MATHS
Pupils can be given further support in Math. This is identified by the class teacher and a referral made. Support generally takes place in small groups in class, focusing on developing an area identified as needing further support through teacher observation, tests and end of term progress checks.
MUSIC
Pupils can be referred for extra music sessions from our music teacher following a teacher referral, either to support a sensory need, development of skills or because they are recognized as gifted and talented. They may receive small group or 1:1 support.
PE
Pupils can be referred to support development of Core stability often recognized in OT and Physio reports, but also through their PE lessons. Pupils will receive support in small groups.
CLASS STRUCTURE
TIMETABLES
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
PUPILS WITH ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE
There are some pupils whose progress may be affected because they have EAL in addition to their special educational needs. Whilst it is important that these pupils can be assessed within wider statutory assessment arrangements, additional advice or guidance may be required to help teachers make their assessments accurately and effectively.
IMPACT OF THE CURRICULUM
MONITORING AND EVALUATING THE CURRICULUM
Lessons are observed through ‘teacher talks’ where subject leaders and the Senior Leadership Team are expected to view lessons and discuss learning as well as a focus of particular areas of development. This is frequent and involves feeding back to the teacher. Further to this support might be required or it might be suggested that other staff would benefit from the opportunity to share the outstanding practice that has been observed or receive further support where required.
Monitoring is a vital way to identify strengths and areas for development across the school. Monitoring outcomes form the basis for discussion and further action planning.
Throughout the course of an academic year, the following monitoring activities will take place:
All monitoring activities will have a specific focus relating to the department action plan or whole school priority. Specific feedback is provided to individual teachers and general feedback is given to the whole department.
The Impact of the curriculum is identified through the monitoring and evaluation of learning and teaching.
All external sessions with Curriculum or Therapeutic Support outside of class report back progress based on an identified target(s) to the teacher and termly to the Data Lead.
See assessment policy and handbook.
REPORTING ON PROGRESS
There are three formal opportunities for parents/carers to discuss their child’s progress and targets during the academic year. All pupils will have an Annual Review meeting and two parent/carer evenings. Parents are encouraged to contact the class/subject teacher if they have any concerns in the interim.
Written reports are sent home annually for all pupils.
(See Assessment Policy for further information.)
STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Professional development is met through the delivery of INSET and attendance at courses (including local Subject Leader forums where established). Subject Leader Meetings and Department meetings allow the Subject Leaders to discuss information together and disseminate relevant information about new initiatives to teaching staff.
Roles and Responsibilities
Governors Have an overall responsibility to be continually involved in reviewing an maintaining an up to date policy that is made available to parents and
carers.
Headteacher Is responsible for the implementation of the policy and liaising with the
governing body, LA, parents, carers and other appropriate agencies.
Curriculum Lead The Curriculum lead, together with the headteacher, has a general
responsibility of supporting Subject Leaders in the formulating, up-dating and implementation of this policy. They will disseminate information and provide required training relating to the Curriculum. They must maintain and develop their understanding of Curriculum developments where relevant and look to enhance their skills in order to be most effective in their role.
Teachers Responsible for the implementation of the policy as well as planning, resourcing, delivering and recording pupils levels in relation to the
descriptors for each area. Teachers are also involved in curriculum
development process and training is made available where appropriate.
Parents and Carers The school recognises that the parents/carers are key figures in helping their
children to cope with the emotional and physical aspects of growing up. Parents/carers are encouraged to support the school’s curriculum and have access to this policy.
APPENDIX 1: Curriculum Handbook (available as a separate standalone document)