SEMI FORMAL LEAD: vicki.jones@westsilc.org

Pupils are primary and secondary aged across the department. Their needs include moderate to severe learning difficulties, but some also have additional needs - speech and language; Autism; physical difficulties; hearing or visual impartment or SEMH (social, emotional, mental health). Pupils who are based within the semi-formal curriculum are taught a wide range of National Curriculum subjects using a topic-based approach. This helps engage and motivate our learners in order to help them achieve their own full potential and also challenge them. Our learning includes cross curricular links in order to reinforce, build on and develop prior learning. We plan to meet these individualised targets in order to develop each pupil. This can be done through daily lesson or personalised interventions. Such personalised planning ensures differentiation and learning are matched to the needs of each pupil.

Our learning is based on curriculum banded pathways that break down learning into smaller manageable steps in order to show progress in our pupils learning. This ensures all pupils receive a highly personalised approach to learning, enabling them to make very good progress. The teachers and support staff set appropriately challenging targets and staff build strong relationships with our pupils that enable them to develop pupils learning using a wide range of strategies.  A variety of resources, activities and strategies are deployed to help pupils overcome their barriers to learning. 

Pupils are  supported not only in classroom sessions but in other areas of our school including sensory integration, rebound therapy, physical needs, speech and language therapy and personal care where needed. We strive to help students become as independent as they can be and we have a large focus on developing life skills in order to prepare for adulthood. Every class participates in life skills trips into the community which helps students develop independence skills such as handling money, road safety and using public transport. We are committed to making a difference, eager to help pupils develop as individuals and promote their independence. They are able to use their initiative but also follow direction.