Yellow Pathway Curriculum
Formal learning at Highfield Littleport Academy
How do we identify students for the Yellow pathway?
• Students will be working within the upper pre key stage standards and around Year 1 and 2 end of year expectations.
• They benefit from being taught through separate subjects linked through themes to ensure learning is engaging and meaningful. Students may benefit from some sensory approaches
• Yellow learner characteristics include:
• Established communication skills with others
• Emerging social and emotional awareness
• Emerging application of knowledge to different situations
• Developing early cognitive skills
Core areas of Learning in the Yellow Pathway
• There is a subject specific focus which follows the National Curriculum. There are clear learning links and progression through the whole school.
• In Upper KS1 students explore a wide range of topics setting up skills for learning and inquisitive minds. This continues to build and progress throughout KS2 to prepare students for more specific and in depth subjects and topics in KS3.
• Subjects are mostly taught separately but cross curricular links will be promoted where possible this is to build both subject specific knowledge but also highlight how learning is linked to other areas of life. Core English, Maths and PHSE skills will be used in all areas of learning
• Learning is focussed upon EHCP outcomes and the Yellow pathway next steps framework to ensure learners are appropriately challenged and inspired in their learning.
Core learning areas in the Yellow Pathway
• There is a strong emphasis on creativity within each pathway with subjects such as art and music used as both learning tools as well as developing curriculum skills in a spiral progressive manner.
• Students study the following broad range of subjects:
• English (we use Read Write Inc as our phonics & reading scheme), Maths, Science
• The World - Geography, History, RE, MFL (KS3)
• Technology - Food Technology, DT, Computing
• Creativity - Art, Music
• PE & Dance
• PSHE, RSE & Citizenship
The Yellow Pathway within whole school learning and the wider academy
Areas of learning are broadly similar but there are differentiated next steps within each pathway. This is to identify appropriate next steps for learners and ensure there is appropriate challenge.
Students can cross between the pathways according to their needs and abilities within their whole school learning journey.
Yellow Pathway Planning – Identifying Next Steps
• Half termly creative themes maximise cross curricular links and provide a context for learning.
• There is a 2 year rolling plan for lower KS2, a 2 year rolling plan for upper KS2 and a 3 year rolling plan in KS3. This means that there is continual building of knowledge and skills.
• KS4 learners will study for formal qualifications where possible including an ASDAN qualification and functional skills. The KS4 curriculum includes a variety of opportunities to develop wider life skills and promotes community inclusion.
• Topics are flexible and can be adapted to promote and develop students individual interests or current events.
• Cross curricular activities are encouraged to ensure learning is meaningful, engaging and motivational.
• Our curriculum is dynamic and responsive and is also reviewed formally annually to meet the needs of our learners.
Yellow Pathway Teaching Approaches &
Interventions
• Lego Based Therapy - Lego Based therapy works on key areas of social interaction, such as; turn taking, listening, initiation, eye contact, problem solving and sharing. In addition to this it works on language concepts such as; size, prepositions and colours.
TEACCH Approach– This is a structured teaching approach using visuals and a set structure to facilitate learning. The TEACCH approach includes a focus on the person with autism and the development of a program around this person’s skills, interests and needs.
• ELSA – These are group and individualised support programmes to meet the emotional needs of children and teenagers. It recognises that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are also addressed.
Yellow Pathway Teaching Approaches
Learning opportunities are fortified in every moment of the day including lessons, playtimes, dinner, and trips out in the community including journey time.
Students take part in enterprise projects and develop learning skills for life. For example Key Stage 3 students run a weekly tuck shop. The menu is fully designed by the students complete with posters for promotion. Resources are fully costed by the students. Food is prepared by the students continuing the learning journey with food technology and hygiene. Lastly students apply their money and social skills by selling what has been made.
Every topic has at least one ‘Wow’ event which brings learning to life. This ensures that whilst students have individual learning pathways social opportunities are maximised and there is a broad exposure to the world around them.
Yellow Pathway Assessment
• Highfield have developed a bespoke assessment system based around Pre Key Stage Levels and age related expectations to accurately assess the learning and development of our students on the Yellow pathway. This is also used in order to plan next steps in students learning.
• Learning is assessed through observations, photo evidence and collection of work by teachers and teaching assessments. This is recorded through an electronic system Evidence for Learning which enables us to simultaneously assess curriculum outcomes and individual EHCP targets. The frameworks are then used to identify challenging next steps for each learner.
• For our summative assessment process, we will have regular pupil progress meetings between teachers and senior leaders each term where we use a RAG system to show students’ progress for curriculum and individual targets. This process allows us to identify what’s going well and highlight areas where extra support may be needed providing early interventions.
Yellow Pathway Preparing for Adulthood
• We recognise that as students move into adulthood this is a time for significant change and students need to be prepared for this. Through our curriculum we aim to prepare students for this transition whatever age or ability.
• Learning is embedded within the curriculum but grouped under these four areas:
Independent Living – Residential trips, cooking, managing money, travel training, independent living skills, managing finances and time, decision making.
Community – Accessing social situations, staying safe online, knowing the local area, managing change, walking short distances alone, managing free time, belonging to different groups, volunteering, who to ask for help
Employment – continuing to develop English and Maths skills, career discussions and encounters, career choices and advice, planning for employment, transition to new settings, micro enterprise, CV writing, volunteering Health – Development checks, statutory health checks, experiences of body change and development, puberty & sex education, diet and exercise, mental health and wellbeing, drug and alcohol education, knowing when to seek health support, understanding different relationships
Between the Early Years and to the end of Key Stage 3 experiences and encounters are embedded within our curriculum provision. As learners reach Key Stage 4 many of the areas are taught discretely within AQA Units to develop life skills in a variety of different areas such as enterprise and home management.
Learning Values and Behaviours
• Our ethos of preparing students for the next step is underpinned by our five key learning values. Each area encompasses qualities we nurture and develop in our students on a daily basis.
• Independence, Resilience, Thinking, Creativity, Team Work, Kindness
• All of these qualities are utilised in every day life. Through our teaching and learning we identify and practise these values so that students are secure in using them when they leave Highfield.
• Each value has an associated character to aid recognition and association.
Yellow Pathway End Points
• Outcomes for learners on the yellow pathway varies according to the individual progress they make in their time at Highfield Littleport through the curriculum frameworks and against their EHCP outcomes.
• All students are entitled to leave with qualifications at an appropriate level. In the yellow pathway, we offer:
• Functional Skills English and Maths at Level 1 and 2 (equivalent to lower GCSE levels) or
• Entry Level 1, 2 and 3 English and Maths.
• Students also study ASDAN Personal and Social Development as a qualifications base to develop their personal self involving all of our learning values.
• There is also an option to accredit learning according to the AQA Unit Award scheme across wider areas of the curriculum.
Yellow Pathway Transition
• Learners are likely to stay on roll until the end of Year 11. Discussions on moving on begin at the same time as learners on our other pathways, from at least the year 9 annual review. This is coupled with careers education, careers guidance interviews and moving on events.
• Nearly all yellow pathway learners will transition to a local mainstream college to study within specialist college courses at an appropriate level, taking into account he level of study they accessed at Highfield. The programmes of study at college include Maths and English alongside a range of vocational options that they can in turn take into employment. A minority leave Highfield and gain employment without accessing college first.
