All students in this department are following individual programmes. Individual programmes focus on each student’s individual educational needs and the development of essential independence and life skills. Students on individual programmes do not follow a programme based upon specific subjects but the curriculum is used as a vehicle, depending upon individual need. All the learners within the unit are supported 1:1, and are not taught in class groups.
The students work alongside a Learning Support Assistant on their own individual timet
ables which concentrate upon developing their communication, residual vision and/or hearing independence and life skills and/or physical ability. There are occasions when students work in small groups providing the activity is appropriate for all students and provides opportunities for developing communication. Working in pairs or small groups also provides opportunities for interaction between students. The education of these students is individual skill based rather than within key stages.
Due to the nature of the students' education needs it is often necessary to revisit activities aimed at the development of essential skills. These activities may be presented in a similar or different context depending upon the needs of the student. This approach is vital to the students' education and enables them to transfer learnt skills in to a wider range of functional settings.
Some students in this department follow the ASDAN Accreditation Transition Challenge Programme.
Head of Department, Anne Gough, has been named Special Needs Teacher of the Year in the North West heat of the Teaching Awards. Watch BBC North West news report here. Watch Channel M news report here.