Curriculum Overview


Curriculum Structure

Pupils may join the Oaklands Centre at any point during KS1 or KS2, with the majority joining in Year 3-5. The Oaklands Centre's curriculum is different to that of Oaklands Primary School due to the Centre's mixed-age class groups. Pupils frequently remain in their Centre class for more than one year and need a 'rolling programme' to ensure they can access the full National Curriculum. There is also the need to balance the delivery of the National Curriculum with an enhanced Specialist Curriculum that enables optimal personal development for our autistic pupils.


The curriculum content is built on four pillars:

1) Self-Regulation and Social Understanding

2) Key Skills

3) Broad Knowledge

4) Preparation for Adulthood


It comprises of three interlinked parts:

1) Specialist Curriculum (self-regulation, social understanding and preparation for adulthood)

2) Core Curriculum (key skills in maths, English and science)

3) Foundation Curriculum (access to the full National Curriculum)


Specialist Curriculum

The specialist curriculum is taught discretely in timetabled daily lessons and implicitly throughout the day-to-day curriculum.

Core Curriculum

Pupils are taught maths and English from their individual starting points using autism-specific, structured teaching methods. Rather than progressing at a pre-determined pace, there is a focus on rapidly identifying and closing gaps and accelerating learning enabling pupils to meet age related expectations by the end of KS2.

Science is taught alongside the Foundation Curriculum.

Foundation Curriculum

The Oaklands Centre Foundation Curriculum is structured as a 4 year programme with a 2 year cycle of subjects. The programme begins on Pathway A and spirals to Pathway B, enabling pupils to secure knowledge and build on prior learning as they progress through the spiral. Most pupils will progress from Path A to Path B.


N.B. Mainstream Integration

Pupils may also engage in learning following the Oaklands Primary School curriculum alongside their mainstream class for any/ all subjects that are appropriate for them.

Pathways A and B:

Path A

For younger pupils and/ or those with more significant learning needs.

Focus on communication, securing a narrower range of essential academic skills, developing positive group-learning behaviours and community skills.

Pupils are usually disapplied from KS2 statutory testing.

Path A curriculum is usually delivered in Peacocks 1.


Path B

For older pupils and/ or those without or with milder learning needs.

Focus on a broad curriculum at, or near, age-related expectations, closing gaps in core knowledge, developing self-regulated learning habits.

Pupils will usually participate in KS2 statutory testing.

Path B curriculum is usually delivered in Peacocks 2.

Cycle

21//22 Year 1

22/23 Year 2

23/24 Year 1

24/25 Year 2


Typical Timetable:

Foundation Curriculum Sequence:

Key Questions

Each foundation curriculum unit is built around 5 'key questions'; the information needed to answer these questions is taught explicitly. Assessment is based on how accurately and fully pupils can answer these questions. Pupils may be given support for their communication to demonstrate their understanding and knowledge in response to a question. Pupils regularly practise retrieving the knowledge needed to answer these questions until it is committed to long term memory.

Unit Key Questions Complete.pdf

Assessment Calendar:

Oaklands Centre Assessment Calendar.pdf