This pathway is designed for students with highly complex physical, learning and medical needs, working largely at pre entry level. Students will be based in small tutor groups with an emphasis on multi-disciplinary and integrated delivery of the curriculum. There is extensive multi-positional learning, providing opportunities for maintaining and developing the student’s physical skills, posture and mobility. A wide range of therapeutic and educational opportunities are provided, through which the student may consolidate and further develop skills.
Speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy are embedded into an individual’s programme and are addressed, not just by the specific therapist, but by the whole team supporting the student. Individual targets are set by this multi-disciplinary team, following a detailed assessment process (using the IMPACTs assessment tool) and achievement is celebrated with students.
Students receive a high level of specialist support, where learning will be undertaken in a range of settings to expand the horizons of the students and work holistically on their development, involving sensory and experiential activities. There will be an emphasis on developing intentional communication, using symbols as required and developing the students’ ability to express and understand their own wants and needs as independently as possible. The students will be supported to become as empowered as possible to make decisions about their own life, alongside developing a greater understanding of themselves as a person.
Sessions in this cohort are highly bespoke and timetables are created to enable student needs to be met in the most appropriate format. Whilst the students are encouraged to work with others in their cohort and within their class, the targets are highly individualised to develop their own skills. Sessions delivered, for example include, communication through music, intensive interaction, community inclusion and access, domestic skills, enterprise options, leisure enrichment options, mobility skills and multi-sensory communication. If appropriate, the students may work towards units from the OCR Life and Living suite of qualifications.
The students in this group aspire to move into residential living environments and develop their opportunities to maintain their interests in the community.