Curriculum Intent
Newbury Manor School is passionate about delivering a creative and personalised curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils ensuring they are successful in their lives, both in the school community and beyond. The curriculum is under-pinned by a strong belief in our core values; it ensures that all pupils reach their full potential and develop into the most independent and successful young adults that they can be. Newbury Manor School is a strong, nurturing community, which creates a sense of belonging and celebrates individual success at every opportunity.
Provision, which is based on developing strong positive relationships, identifies the needs of each individual pupil to develop communication, independence and social skills that will equip them as adults. The school believes that working within communities and fully utilising all aspects of learning outside the classroom are central to supporting well-being and preparation for adulthood. Providing different pathways through a holistic approach allows pupils to progress on personalised learning journeys. The curriculum is reflective of pupil need, regardless of cognitive level, and seeks to build progress in a bespoke manner. It is not limited by an age-specific approach, but instead pathways are shaped by needs identified within EHCPs, including as appropriate, access to a range of qualifications and accreditations. The curriculum at Newbury Manor School is designed to develop transferable skills that equip all pupils for life beyond school including looking at career paths. Careers is embedded into the curriculum to support our young people’s futures across all ages & stages to make informed decisions and to raise aspirations and to challenge stereotypes.
Implementation Framework and design
The following diagram represents the structure of the curriculum across Newbury Manor School. The curriculum is designed in three areas: Pre-Formal, Semi-Formal and Formal pathways. This allows for dove tailing across the entire continuum of need, offering breadth and balance. Pupils can progress through from Pre-Formal to Semi-Formal or Semi Formal to Formal, pupils will rarely progress from Pre-Formal to Formal in their time at Newbury Manor School. The whole school themes in Primary, Pre-Formal and Semi- Formal develop opportunities for a more holistic approach to learning.
Informal Curriculum
The Informal Curriculum is for pupils who have profound and complex needs. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of pupils through a personalised approach, valuing the process as much as the achievement and offering flexibility to be responsive to the needs of the individual learner. It focuses primarily on the four areas of the EHCP; Communication, Cognition and Learning, Social, Emotional and Mental Health and Sensory and Physical that are the foundations of the pupils learning. It is a curriculum that recognises the importance of play in a child’s development and the need for sensory and multi-sensory approaches to learning. It acknowledges what learners can do by supporting and developing their strengths and abilities and it is designed to be delivered in an integrated way, incorporating learning, therapy and health needs.
Semi-formal Curriculum
The Semi-formal curriculum is delivered through a thematic based approach. It recognises that many of our pupils have a range of complex needs as well as learning difficulties. We meet each pupil’s needs through a personalised approach delivered through a bespoke curriculum which covers the four areas of the EHCP: Communication, Cognition and Learning, Social, Emotional and Mental Health and Sensory and Physical.
For some pupils a social communication, emotional regulation and transactional support focus provides pupils with the skills and tools to be able to manage their own feelings, anxieties and behaviour, as well as understand and utilise effective and appropriate methods of communication. This equips our learners with the ability to meaningfully interact with, and convey needs to, familiar people; as well as those who help to support us in the wider community. The curriculum is designed to be fun, engaging, practical and meaningful and match to pupils learning and developmental needs. It aims to promote life skills, independence, communication and sensory integration activities to prepare pupils for learning. Regardless of physical, emotional and learning challenges, teaching through the Semi-formal curriculum captures the interest and imagination of our pupils.
Formal Curriculum
The formal curriculum is delivered through National Curriculum subjects, along with life skills activities, including a careers programme (see Careers Education Local Procedure), learning outside the classroom opportunities, and creative subjects. The formal curriculum is for those pupils who may have a range of needs, but who are cognitively able to access many aspects of a more academic curriculum framework, modified in line with pupil’s
developmental level and additional needs. The formal curriculum at Newbury Manor goes beyond the academic and focuses on developing skills for life and embeds the importance of British Values. We also recognise the value of learning about other communities, countries and cultures, to widen our pupil’s knowledge of the world and often have whole school events to enrich our pupil’s experiences as well as including these elements in topics
and lessons for all.
