Our Curriculum
Our Intent
Introduction
Every pupil admitted to Sycamore Short Stay School has been on a unique educational journey. We are committed to being a positive and stabilising setting that bridges to continued education, whether that be another mainstream school or a specialist setting. Pupils are with us for varying amounts of time; some individuals will have a short time with us (6 weeks) while others can remain in excess of 1 year dependent on the availability of provision. Our curriculum therefore needs to be broad and balanced, flexible, personalised and designed to enable pupils to progress to the next stage on their educational journey. Our aim is to provide a curriculum that enables each child to shine: to nurture their individual talents, develop and raise their cultural capital and raise aspirations in line with the School ethos of Safe, Respect and Learn.
Core Aims
Out curriculum is designed to:
Re-engage all pupils as learners
Enhance the self-perception, creating independent, resilient and confident learners
Inspire and motivate pupils, fostering a curiosity to learn
Enable all pupils to make progress from their individual starting points and to have success in learning, underpinned by a focus on developing pupils' social development, emotional wellbeing and mental health
Have a strong curriculum focus on the facilitating subjects of English, Mathematics and Science
Support all pupils to lead healthy and safe lifestyles
Support all pupils to develop the skills, behaviours and attitudes that will enable them to reintegrate to and be successful in the next phase of their education
Safe
We want our pupils to act safely in school, and be safe in society.
Respect
We want our pupils to be respectful to everyone in our community.
Learn
We want our pupils to enjoy learning, and make the most of every opportunity.
Pedagogical Understanding
In-depth understanding of attachment theory, child development and nurture underpins and informs all aspects of Sycamore Short Stay School. Using this evidence based research and theory ensures the greatest outcomes for our learners, both academic and personal development.
Principles that underpin
Relationships are key
Children's learning is understood developmentally
The school provides a safe, respectful and secure base that enables pupils to explore and learn
All behaviour is communication
The importance of transition in children's lives
Our Implementation
The Curriculum Offer
At Sycamore, we offer a broad and balanced curriculum including subject based learning alongside a wide range of enrichment opportunities.
In any one classroom at Sycamore, we will have pupils from state-maintained schools and academies, who have experienced very different curriculums before joining us, and who may return or move on to another setting with a different curriculum. We have mixed age classes of children, many of whom are not working at age related expectations. It is therefore crucially important that our curriculum is flexible enough to enable us to meet a wide range of needs. A robust induction process ensures prior information is shared involving previous school and parents/carers. Each pupil who enters Sycamore Short Stay School will be assessed on entry.
Pupils complete baseline assessments in English, Mathematics, Science, Reading and Spelling, as well as the PASS survey. This allows staff to develop a personalised curriculum that fills any gaps they have in prior learning, and allows them to move at their own pace, whatever their starting point. Using the National Curriculum as a starting point, we operate a two year rolling programme of subject based learning.
Core Curriculum
English, including Twinkl Phonics
Mathematics
Science
PSHE
Geography
Dimensions
Enrichment Curriculum
Food Technology
Creative Arts, Performing Arts & Music
PE/Outdoor Education and Swimming
Careers
Wellbeing and Nurture
PSHE & SMSC
The PSHE Curriculum and embedded SMSC opportunities will ensure that Sycamore Short Stay School fulfills all our statutory obligations under equality legislation.
Our Impact
indicators of Success
Our key indicator of success is not assessment results alone, but rather the pupils ability to be successful in the next stage of their learning. Whilst we care greatly about ensuring that all students close gaps with their peers and make academic progress, we also want them to:
Develop into a well-rounded citizen making a positive contribution to society
Improve their wellbeing and lead healthy and safe lifestyles
Leave us with the best possible skills and attributes, built on the solid foundations outlined above, in order to nurture their individual talents and raise their own aspirations
Successfully reintegrate into a mainstream school (or, where appropriate, a special school)
Engage all students in learning
Observations of learning
Student voice
Attendance
Weekly reviews of behaviour targets
Daily mentor time reviews
Use of PASS testing
Enable all students to make progress from their individual starting points, and to have successes in learning
Analysis of pupil progress data
Qualitative data on pupil progress e.g. book scrutiny
Support all pupils to lead healthy and safe lifestyles
Observations of learning in PSHE lessons
Student voice
Analysis of behaviour scaling
Keeping safe curriculum
Physical literacy outcomes
Boxall data tracking
IBP analysis
Support all pupils to develop the skills, behaviours and attitudes that will enable them to reintegrate to, and be successful in a mainstream school
Number of students successfully reintegrated to the next phase of their education
For more information about our curriculum, you can contact Miss S Banner by calling school on (01384) 818237.