Pre-Formal Curriculum

Pre-Formal Curriculum Pathway

Our Pre-Formal pathway is for students who have profound and complex communication

and interaction needs. It is designed to meet the individual educational, health and care

needs of pupils through a highly personalised approach. It focuses on engagement and the

early communication, social, emotional and cognitive skills that are the foundation of

learning.

Our aim for our pre-formal students, alongside all our students, is to become as active

participants in their learning as possible to maximise their life potential at each stage of their

personal journey and ultimately in preparation for adulthood. Our pre-formal curriculum

supports and nurtures the development of lifelong learners, who are motivated, inquisitive

and active participants in their unique curriculum.

Through meaningful and organic creative learning opportunities alongside enabling and

supportive environments, our students will form positive relationships with those around

them, forming a stronger sense of belonging and leading to greater fulfilment.

To achieve optimal engagement and success, students access an ambitious thematic

curriculum, differentiated to reflect the age of pupils and allowing for a breadth of

opportunities. The thematic curriculum is the vehicle to develop the skills, knowledge and

cultural capital pupils need to succeed in life beyond school (Preparation for Adulthood).

The pre-formal thematic curriculum covers key areas of learning – Communication and

Sensory experience, Cognition and Challenge, Physical. Personal Care and Independence,

Creative Arts and Outdoor Learning and Play and at the core of this is always – What do our

students need to learn?

A key focus within the pre-formal pathway is the balance of our student’s educational

experiences with the input of therapy and care needed to support their position and comfort

to be in the best possible place to learn. Students’ interests are built upon throughout the

pre-formal pathway and thematic experiences are used to broaden their individual

experiences and nurture every student’s educational journey.

The pathway recognises the importance of movement and early exploration in a student’s

development and the need for sensory and multi-sensory approaches to learning. Teachers

provide open ended opportunities for building positive relationships and trust and

engagement in social experiences are priority and key to all areas of learning.

Students accessing the informal curriculum benefit from being in specific class groups taught

by the same teacher and consistent team of TA and care staff.