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We are a special school for students with Specific Learning Disability, Moderate Learning Difficulties, Social, Educational and Mental Health and Autism Spectrum Disorder. We have a sixth form and really wanted to take part in Skills Builder to develop our skills centred approach and to embed the language of skills with our students.
Overall impact
It has been really useful in providing a summative framework of where students are with their skills.
Keep it simple
We have the language in displays around the building and on classroom walls. The language and awareness of skills has been talked about in lessons taught live and those set remotely. Staff have re-iterated the use of language across the school and the curriculum areas to increase students familiarity with it and understanding that the skills are transferable.
Start early, keep going
We have started to formally follow skills builder with our 6th formers but teachers have used the language across their planning and have referenced the skills in lessons across the board.
Measure it
We have used both the universal and expanded frameworks and these together with the Skill Passports have been vital in supporting the students in understanding the steps involved in mastering the different skills.
Focus tightly
We have aligned our curriculum with the skills and embedded the skills framework into our assessment system. Teachers are tracking students progress against the skills in their day to day teaching.
Keep practising
We have brought challenge days and created our own challenges as well as the usual days we have planned off time table which have been great for showcasing and developing skills.
Bring it to life
Our challenge days and curriculum is focussed on preparing for adulthood outcomes and the challenges are based around life skills and real experiences and situations the students will have to encounter.
What's next
We want to continue the programme to further embed the skills and filter it down to lower key stages.
