Tel: 01935 421295
We nurture every young person’s educational journey, recognising our core responsibility to prepare them for an aspirational, successful and increasingly independent future.
Our ambitious curriculum provides every young person with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to thrive, whatever their individual needs, strengths or curriculum pathway. Throughout their time with us, young people are supported to make progress, achieve their potential and, where appropriate, gain formal qualifications that help prepare them for the next stage of their lives.
A strong focus on Skills for Life is at the heart of our Fairmead curriculum. We want young people to be able to apply what they learn in meaningful, practical and functional ways, helping them become more confident and independent in their everyday lives. Skills for Life are increasingly embedded across all areas of learning and curriculum pathways, ensuring that learning is purposeful and relevant to each young person’s future.
Our curriculum supports young people to develop academically while also building confidence, independence and resilience. It encourages them to take greater responsibility for themselves and others, develop empathy and respect, and recognise and celebrate their own strengths and achievements.
Above all, we want every young person to leave us with a clearer sense of who they are, what they can achieve and where their journey may take them next.
Every young person is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that every learning journey is unique, and we value each young person’s individual strengths, interests, aspirations and needs, as well as the hopes and aspirations of their families.
Because we know our young people so well, we understand how each individual learns, communicates and makes sense of the world around them. This enables us to shape learning around the individual, remove barriers to achievement and create opportunities for every young person to grow in confidence, develop their potential and prepare for a fulfilled and meaningful adult life.
Our curriculum is carefully designed to meet individual needs while remaining ambitious for every young person. Alongside our core subjects of English, Maths, Computing, Science, RSHE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education) and PE, our broad and balanced curriculum includes specialist areas that develop communication and promote independence, life skills and personal development. Our curriculum pillars, the "3Cs" of Communication, Community and Careers sit over our foundation of Skills for Life, underpinning learning across the school and helping young people understand how their learning can be applied in real-life situations and prepare them for life beyond school.
We maintain a strong focus on academic development, while also placing a high priority on personal development, wellbeing and inclusion (def: having the tools and strategies to access all aspects of school life and learning). Through personalised support and interventions, we help young people develop confidence, emotional wellbeing, positive relationships and the skills they need to participate more fully in school, their community and later life.
We want learning to be purposeful, meaningful and relevant. Young people are supported to apply the knowledge and skills they develop in increasingly functional ways and across a widening range of environments. For example, they may use communication, maths and independence skills to plan a journey, shop for ingredients, prepare a simple meal or participate in their local community. In this way, learning becomes relevant and purposeful, extending beyond simply acquiring knowledge to something that has genuine meaning and value to them as developing individuals.
Our curriculum is broad, balanced and ambitious. It provides young people with opportunities to access the full range of Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) areas of learning and National Curriculum subjects, alongside our careers education and wider preparation for adulthood offer.
National Curriculum programmes of study are thoughtfully adapted to provide an appropriate level of challenge and meaningful outcomes for each young person. Where appropriate, subjects may also be used as a vehicle to develop wider skills, engagement and curiosity about the world around them. We ensure that statutory curriculum requirements are met while adapting learning so that it is accessible, purposeful and age appropriate for each individual.
Strong foundations in communication, language, reading, writing and maths are prioritised throughout the school. These essential skills enable young people to access wider learning, develop greater independence and deepen their knowledge and understanding. Alongside the core curriculum, young people experience a range of foundation subjects that broaden their knowledge, skills and experiences, while our Life Skills curriculum provides regular opportunities to apply this learning in everyday and community contexts.
We recognise that our young people may face barriers to learning and that most work below age-related expectations. We therefore carefully adapt teaching, learning and expectations to reflect each young person’s starting point, developmental stage, strengths and individual needs. Individual targets, including those identified through Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), are woven meaningfully throughout the school day and week so that they contribute to learning and progress rather than being separate from it.
Our assessment approach helps us understand what each young person knows, understands and can do, providing a clear picture of their starting point and progress over time. Assessment is used to inform teaching, identify appropriate next steps and ensure that learning provides the right level of challenge.
Teachers plan carefully sequenced learning, using assessed outcomes to build knowledge and skills over time. Teaching approaches and learning experiences are adapted to reflect individual learning needs, communication styles and developmental stages. This informed approach enables us to celebrate progress, however small or significant, while ensuring that every young person continues to move forward.
Our Early Years curriculum provides the strong foundations on which future learning is built. It is informed by Birth to 5 Matters and the EYFS statutory framework, encompassing the Prime and Specific Areas of Learning and the Early Learning Goals.
We provide rich opportunities for children to develop curiosity, enthusiasm for learning, communication, relationships and the capacity to learn. Individual EHCP outcomes and therapeutic plans are woven into everyday learning, ensuring that support is purposeful and connected to each child’s wider development.
Learning is carefully planned around children’s interests and developmental needs, including short, focused and engaging sessions that help children build the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Children are supported to develop, consolidate and deepen their knowledge, understanding and skills across all areas of EYFS learning, giving them the best possible start to their educational journey.
As children progress through Early Years, the curriculum prepares them for the next stage of their school life. Increasing opportunities to develop subject-specific knowledge and skills support their transition towards accessing National Curriculum subjects and associated programmes of study.
Our curriculum is built around five key elements which are delivered through three bespoke learning pathways: Learning for Life, Learning to Learn and Ready to Learn
Each curriculum element has its own clear vision, ensuring that everyone has a shared understanding of its purpose and the knowledge, skills and outcomes it seeks to develop. Click the buttons below for a summary of how each element contributes to the cohesive and progressive learning journeys of our young people
