Curriculum Intent
At Fred Nicholson School, our curriculum aims to provide our young people with learning, opportunities and experiences to gain the necessary skills and qualities to enable them to lead the most successful, happy and independent lives possible.
We aim to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum to our pupils which is tailored to meet individual need at an appropriate level to their abilities. Our curriculum focuses on the teaching of functional skills with integrated therapeutic interventions in order to support pupils holistically.
Our pupils will be encouraged to contribute towards the curriculum we offer, with the opportunity to pursue their own interests within topics. Our pupils are given the opportunity to discuss their next steps and how to move their learning forwards in a way appropriate to their ability.
Curriculum Aims
Pupils leaving Fred Nicholson School will:
- Enjoy their learning and be proud of their achievements.
- Be an active member of our school and local community.
- Be able to communicate using a preferred communication method.
- Be able to form positive relationships with other young people and adults.
- Be able to use strategies to support self-regulation.
- Feel confident in themselves as an individual and be respectful of others.
- Be able to make choices and have increasing control over decisions made.
- Be aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and their own medical needs.
- Have reached appropriate levels of functioning in their key skills.
- Have the relevant qualifications for their next steps in education or employment.
- Be ambitious in their wants for their future.
- Feel supported in making the transition to the next stage of their lives.
Curriculum Frameworks
At Fred Nicholson School, all our pupils have an Educational, Health and Care Plan. Therefore our curriculum has been designed around the key areas and outcomes of this plan. These five frameworks are covered within all of our curriculum pathways:
Curriculum Strands
Within each framework, the curriculum content is broken down into Curriculum Strands. These are the ‘subjects’ that make up our programme of study at Fred Nicholson School:
For further information on our Curriculum Strands please click on the links below:
- Careers and Employability Overview
- Creative Learning Overview
- Digital Communication Overview
- Early Reading Overview
- Functional Maths Overview
- Life Skills Overview
- People and Communities Overview
- PSHE Overview
- Ready to Go Overview
- Speech, Language and Alternative Communication Overview
- World Around Us Overview
- Written Communication Overview
The main content of our curriculum is based on aspects of the following frameworks and approaches:
- The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework
- The Engagement Model
- Functional Skills Qualifications
- Zones of Regulation
- Attention Autism
- Learning Outside the Classroom
- Forest School
- Sensory Circuits
- Hydrotherapy
- Trauma Informed Schools UK
- TITAN Travel Training
- Gatsby Career Benchmarks
Where relevant and appropriate to individual cohorts of learners, our curriculum also includes aspects of the National Curriculum Framework. However, the identified core and foundation ‘subjects’ within the framework have been adapted into our curriculum strands to ensure they are purposeful and relevant to our cohort.
Curriculum Implementation
Our curriculum is delivered in the following pathways:
- Orange Pathway curriculum is based on aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and Engagement Model. Pupils are taught in an explorative, play-based approach with a strong emphasis on supporting pupils’ communication, physical and independence needs.
- Green Pathway curriculum is based on aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and some National Curriculum areas. Pupils are taught in a child-led approach whilst developing some formal learning skills, such as enquiry and problem solving.
- Purple Pathway curriculum is based on aspects of the National Curriculum. Pupils are taught in a formal, but practical and purposeful way, with a strong emphasis on developing their confidence and independence with their learning.
- Pink Pathway is an adaptation of one of the above pathways. Pupils are taught in an individualised way, this may include bespoke timetables, curriculums based around individual interests and use of alternative and off-site provision to support learning and engagement.
Curriculum Impact
Our vision is ‘building for successful futures’. We provide a safe, happy and caring culture, where everyone feels able to learn and communicate, where mistakes and challenges are supported, enabling us to be successful together.
We aim for our young people to leave Fred Nicholson School achieving a range of qualifications best suited to their needs and abilities. The majority of our pupils leave Fred Nicholson School with Entry Level qualifications. After their time at Fred Nicholson School, pupils transition to an appropriate college, sixth form or other alternative educational setting to continue their education.
