Unlike the main school, we do not follow an adaption of the national curriculum but rather follow the Equals Curriculum with a heavy focus on developing independence and functional life skills.
You can find out more information about Equals Curriculum here. We currently cater for children from Nursery to Key Stage 2.
The Adapted Curriculum is designed to be a low-arousal, therapeutic environment with a high adult to child ratio.
The provision is managed jointly by a Specialist Teacher and Speech and Language Therapist. Each group is led by a teacher, with an attached Speech and Language Therapist, an Occupational Therapist and two teaching assistants who have received training to support children with language and communication difficulties.
Therapy approaches used in the Adapted Curriculum primarily aim to support the development of robust and spontaneous functional communication. The children in Adapted Curriculum are all significantly delayed in early communication skills, shared attention, social interaction and play. Most of the children have a diagnosis of Autism.
Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) is integrated into the classroom as the focus is very much on communication first, then academic learning. SLT input is focused on creating the best communicative environment possible, with individualised strategies integrated into this. All input – SLT, occupational therapy and teaching – is integrated and collaborative. Most of the daily therapy is delivered as small group therapy, but individual SLT sessions are also sometimes provided where needed.
Therapists following the SCERTS philosophy and work closely with the multi-disciplinary team to support emotional regulation alongside communication. The SCERTS framework, helps us to manage the children’s level of arousal and sensory needs, anxieties and any other emotional needs.
We are always aiming to keep the children happy, to feel safe, to trust us, and to have the motivation and abilities to interact with us and the world around them.
Our attached Occupational Therapist delivers daily group O.T. sessions and is also available to support transitions, daily living skills, mealtimes and recreational activities.The OT team devises sensory diets for all students and are an integral part in the planning and organisation of the physical environment.
