Vision: Provide a broad and balanced curriculum within an enhanced support base, Horizons is for students who persistently disengage with the universal mainstream offer and require a targeted provision.
Mission: Students attend a daily, full-time provision where they study the National Curriculum, develop character and elevate their aspirations.
The provision ultimately aims for all students to be successful at post-16 and go on to make a positive contribution to society.
Horizons is Lift Kingswood’s internal enhanced support base for students who persistently disengage with the universal mainstream offer and require full time targeted provision. It is situated within the heart of the main school and offers access to all the facilities available at Lift Kingswood, including science labs, PE and Sports facilities, cooking rooms, music rooms and workshops. Horizons comprises 4 small rooms; H1, H2, H3 and H4; specifically designed to promote a calm and purposeful small scale learning environment.
Lessons are taught by the most experienced and highest performing teachers in the school which includes members of the Senior Team, SENCO, Heads of Department and Lead teachers who all have a proven ability to teach outstanding lessons. In addition, every lesson is supported by a specialist Learning Support Assistant. Each room has a designated Mentor - Learning Support Assistant who liaises with families and coordinates support on a weekly basis. The Mentor - Learning Support Assistant is available at the beginning and end of each day and oversees social times to enable consistency and positive professional relationships.
The Horizons groups provide the foundations for reintegration into all learning through a tailored teaching approach. Lessons are individually differentiated to meet the needs of students whilst still providing a curriculum which mirrors the mainstream to allow for potential transition back to mainstream (the curriculum is not narrowed).
Students in the Horizons provision are supported through a multi-faceted approach that combines intensive academic instruction, personalised relational support, and a structured environment designed to foster character development.
Support is delivered through the following key areas:
Specialised Staffing and Academic Support
Expert Instruction: Lessons are taught by the school's most experienced and highest-performing teachers, including members of the Senior Leadership Team, the SENCO, and Heads of Department.
High Staff-to-Student Ratio: Every lesson is supported by a specialist Learning Support Assistant (LSA). Additionally, each room has a designated mentor who coordinates support and maintains weekly communication with families.
Tailored Curriculum: While students follow the National Curriculum to ensure their options remain open, lessons are individually differentiated to meet specific needs. The curriculum mirrors the mainstream offer so that students do not fall behind their peers.
Relational and Emotional Support
Climate of Trust: A small, consistent team of staff works to build professional relationships and create a safe environment where students feel supported to take risks.
Restorative Practice: Staff work restoratively with students, treating mistakes as learning opportunities to build grit, resilience, and a growth mindset.
Consistency: Mentor-LSAs oversee social times to provide a consistent adult presence throughout the entire school day.
Access where needed to external services to support with wellbeing and behaviour.
Character Development and Inclusion
Aspiration Building: The curriculum includes a specific focus on Character Education, PSHE, and "Votes For Schools" to help students engage with current affairs and develop global awareness.
Community Integration: Students are encouraged to remain part of the wider school community by participating in House competitions and whole-school events like talent shows and Christmas celebrations.
Weekly PSP plan shared with students and parents
Access to ELSA where needed
SENCO observations
Additional careers support
Access to professional listening services
Rewards provide an opportunity to build positive professional relationships and re-engage students with their learning through positive regard and positive reinforcement.
In addition to journal stickers and the Star of the Week, students within Horizons also access laptops and games consoles at social times.
Individual additional rewards are also offered; for example if a student receives zero removals for a full week (Monday to Friday (inc break and lunch)), has 100% attendance and zero missed detentions then a reward will be issued on the following Monday.
Rationale for Monday is to highlight the available reward at the beginning of the week and allow the reward to be issued as soon as possible following the positive week.
If students in H1, H2 or H3 collectively meet the expectations of the Horizons setting including:
98% attendance.
Zero breakdowns.
No missed or incomplete detentions.
a half termly rewards trip will be arranged.
Students receive C1 and C2 warnings during lessons if their behaviour falls below expectations. If they receive a C3, they will be removed to another Horizons classroom for the remainder of the lesson.
If a student continues to cause disruption in the removal classroom they are removed directly to the Headteacher’s suite where they remain isolated for the remainder of the day.
If a student arrives late to school, they will receive a 30 minute detention the same day (15:00-15:30).
If a student receives a C3, they will not be allowed to use an electronic device during social times that day.
The aim of all our Horizons groups is to enable students to reintegrate back into mainstream lessons where possible. There is a structured, tiered approach to reintegration to ensure the best chance of success. This approach has been developed using experience and knowledge of what has worked well with previous students.
To be eligible for reintegration students must be showing good progress in all below areas:
Attendance
Attitude towards learning
Behaviour
Punctuality
Horizons supports students' reintegration into the mainstream curriculum through a combination of mirrored academic planning, a structured transition process, and ongoing social integration.
Key methods of support include:
Curriculum Alignment: To ensure a seamless transition, Horizons schemes of learning mirror the mainstream curriculum. By not narrowing the curriculum, the school allows students to return to mainstream lessons without a disruption to their learning progress.
Specialised Teaching and Differentiation: Lessons are taught by the school's most experienced teachers and subject specialists, with every lesson supported by a specialist Learning Support Assistant (LSA). Teachers individually differentiate lessons to meet specific student needs while maintaining the same academic standards as the mainstream offer.
Maintaining School Connections: Despite being a targeted provision, Horizons is located in the heart of the main school, giving students access to all standard facilities like science labs and workshops. Students also continue to participate in whole-school celebrations and House competitions, such as talent shows and Christmas events, to remain part of the broader academy community.
Relational Support: A dedicated mentor coordinates support for each student and liaises with their families. These mentors work restoratively with students to build the resilience and character needed to flourish in a mainstream environment.