Pupils attending this provision follow the semi-formal Equals Curriculum. All school-based learning is reinforced by regular educational trips, designed to bring the curriculum to life and enable pupils to experience topics practically for themselves. As well as supporting their classroom-based learning, regular involvement in the community helps pupils to develop other skills such as time management, travel skills, organisation, self-confidence and self -awareness. Pupils also practise using their classroom skills in a functional way, such as using maths skills when making purchases and journey planning. As pupils move through Blossom House, they progress onto more complex skills however these will still be delivered and reinforced through a more functional approach.
Each class has a named SLT and OT. The therapists work collaboratively with teaching staff, providing therapy, advice and assistance to pupils on a needs-led basis and making sure all learning is supported through the use of appropriate SLT and OT strategies. This ensures pupils can both access the content of lessons, and demonstrate their learning through participation in class. The therapists also directly support the generalisation of knowledge and skills into real life situations through involvement in trips and community based learning.
A typical day at Wimbledon looks like:
Wimbledon pupils also experience:
- Educational visits and trips to facilitate and support learning and further the pupils’ ability to access the curriculum. Towards the end of the school year, our Wimbledon pupils join our KS3 trips to activity centres where they can experience staying away from home; activities like zip wires and kayaking; social opportunities with a range of pupils.
- Day trips are really important for our pupils to practice a number of functional more independent tasks. These have included trips to our Euston site, the Dopamine exhibition in Central London, weekly horse riding and cycling opportunities in SW London
- Wimbledon pupils benefit from joining in with exciting days and themes like Music Week and concerts that take place at Motspur Park. Access to facilities like the Sports Hall and Music rooms.
- Individual targets usually linked with their Termly Targets to help build and support key life and learning skills.
This pathway has been set up recently for pupils who need extra time in embedding their learning and who’s individual aims focus on needing to access a more functional curriculum; learning with purpose rather than theoretical learning. The timetable is designed so that these pupils have a smaller number of teachers, with fewer transitions and more topic based, functional learning. For the past two years the Formal Equals Curriculum has been used to structure this pathway. With Equals now ending the accreditation element for this specific section of Equals, this pathway will instead be structured by the AQA Units Award System. Pupils’ learning will continue in a very similar way, with more access to the outdoors, a number of trips to practice functional learning outside of the classroom and a range of literacy and numeracy and topics that are relevant and transferrable for the pupils.
SLTs and OTs within the secondary team work collaboratively with teaching staff, providing therapy, advice and assistance to pupils on a needs-led basis and making sure all learning is supported through the use of appropriate SLT and OT strategies. This ensures pupils can both access the content of lessons, and demonstrate their learning through participation in class. The therapists also directly support the generalisation of knowledge and skills into real life situations through involvement in trips and community-based learning.
Pupils’ timetables allow flexibility of accessing a learning environment at the right pace and pitch with peers of similar needs. This is balanced with access to a broader peer range to meet their social needs. This provides opportunities to go on football tournaments and sports matches as well as whole year group trips to the theatre or end of year residentials.
