We use a variety of teaching and learning styles to deliver an ambitious English curriculum that is successfully adapted, designed and developed for our pupils with special educational needs
In line with the national curriculum for English, we intend to teach all pupils to:
• read easily, fluently and with good understanding
• develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
• acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
• write coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
• use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain their understanding and ideas
• are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate
Our classes generally contain mixed age-groups and pupils often have specific difficulties with; speech and language, acquiring reading and writing skills, general learning difficulties or gaps in learning, as well as experiencing severe social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Pupils at Summerhouse frequently find it very difficult to produce age-appropriate, sustained pieces of independent writing, and often also find reading independently very challenging. They may also experience difficulties with speaking and listening effectively.
Because of this, we need to be flexible in our planning and delivery. We plan according to the child’s prior learning, ability and needs, based on both our own close assessment and the sharing of information from their Mainstream schools.
Given the very transient nature of our pupils as well as their generally low self-esteem, we have a close focus on developing the basic skills in reading, writing, spelling and handwriting.
Units of work are coherently planned and sequenced by the class teacher using quality texts (planning based on the Literacy Tree Planning Sequences), supplemented with other relevant activities and may link with relevant cross-curricular topics as appropriate.
