Our Semi-Formal Curriculum provides a broad, engaging, and meaningful learning experience, organised around relevant themes and topics that reflect the interests, needs, and experiences of our students. Learning is carefully planned to ensure coherence and progression, enabling students to build on their prior knowledge, skills, and personal experiences.

Where appropriate, units of learning are adapted from the National Curriculum to ensure that students have access to relevant curriculum content at a level that is appropriate to their individual needs and abilities. Learning is differentiated and personalised so that every student can make meaningful progress and develop skills that are relevant to their lives.

The curriculum places a strong emphasis on independence, communication, and problem-solving, with these skills embedded across all areas of learning and daily activities. Staff provide appropriate support and opportunities for students to develop the highest level of independence possible, gradually reducing support where appropriate and encouraging students to apply their skills in different contexts.

Community experiences are an important part of the curriculum, providing students with regular opportunities to practise and generalise their learning in real-life settings. Through purposeful community activities, students develop functional skills such as communication, travel, shopping, personal safety, social interaction, and making choices. These experiences support students to become more confident, independent, and active members of their local communities.

Each student is at the centre of their learning. Curriculum planning is informed by their Personalised Learning Plan (PLP), ensuring that individual strengths, needs, interests, aspirations, and learning priorities are reflected in their learning experiences.

Through a thematic and personalised approach, students are supported to make meaningful connections between learning, develop functional skills, and apply their knowledge in real-life situations. This enables learning to be purposeful, relevant, and engaging while supporting students to become increasingly confident and independent learners. 

Year 1 (Yr 7)	Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1	Summer 2
Focus area	Self and society	Cultural celebrations	Animals in different environments	Life in prehistoric times	Work in the community	Importance of water in life

 

Year 2 (Yr 8)	Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1	Summer 2
Focus area	Exploring the world and beyond	Caring for the environment	How have toys changed?	Food around the world	Sporting values	Summer in the natural world

 

Year 3 (Yr 9)	Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1	Summer 2
Focus area	Life below the waves	Community and responsibility	Weather in the environment	Plants and their environment	Healthy living and wellbeing	Travel and global connections