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Our Approach to Learning
At Huntingdon House School, we have designed our curriculum with individuals' learning at the centre. We recognise that a curriculum needs to be broad and balanced and offer students opportunities to grow as individuals as well as within a community. Through a combination of learning techniques, we aim to ensure individuals enjoy learning and feel prepared for life after school.
Our curriculum enables students to develop their interpersonal skills, creativity and independence. It's designed to help our students realise their strengths and prepare for the next steps in ever-changing social and economic environments.
Curriculum Aims
At Huntingdon House School we:
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Keep the individual at the heart of everything we do.
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Provide exciting, motivational and ambitious experiences for students that enable rapid and sustained engagement.
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Address individuals’ learning barriers and needs to prepare them for the next stage of their education, life outside school and ultimately their adult life.
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Provide appropriate learning experiences, as well as breadth and depth of subject matter, adapting this and creating bespoke learning where appropriate.
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Seek curriculum enhancement to support the interests and aspirations of individuals, to develop skills, resilience and respect.
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Explore our individuals’ talents and aspirations and enable them to experience a wide range of opportunities.
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Develop portable and transferable skills for all individuals in communication, social interactions, independence, personal safety, self-regulation of sensory needs, self-regulation of behaviour, Literacy, Numeracy and ICT skills.
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Provide a personalised curriculum that meets the needs, interests, abilities and aspirations of all individuals, ensuring SEND needs are fully met and also provide ongoing support for the next phase of their lives to allow them to make a positive contribution to society.
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Promote positive mental health, supporting social and emotional well-being for every member of our school community including, staff, individuals and families.
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Deliver Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) sessions around explicit safeguarding strategies to support students in keeping themselves safe.
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Promote equal opportunities to all of our students in line with the Equality Act 2010 throughout our practices.
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Promote Fundamental British Values and Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural (SMSC) development throughout our curriculum delivery.
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Seek the input of students, parents/carers, other stakeholders, and the wider community with regard to the planning and delivery of the curriculum through questionnaires and consultation.
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Provide opportunities for lateral and linear progression for learners who find it more difficult to access the national curriculum.
Curriculum Offer
At Huntingdon House School, we give particular emphasis to the development of essential skills and knowledge through the promotion of experiences in areas such as Linguistic, Mathematical, Scientific, Technological, Human and Social, Physical and Aesthetic and Creative.
Semi-Formal Pathway
For all our Semi-Formal learners, we provide a curriculum that reflects the needs of the whole child, aiming to prepare them for life as adults after Huntingdon House School by offering functional and personalised learning. Our curriculum includes functional English, functional Maths, opportunities for creativity, physical well-being and community integration. Our Semi-Formal Curriculum follows the principles and format of the EQUALS Semi-Formal Explore and Challenge Curriculums, allowing us to promote what our learners need, rather than being constrained by subject areas.
Formal Pathway
At Huntingdon House School, we offer a formal curriculum pathway dependent on ability and SEND requirements, based on the Equals formal curriculum. This pathway may lead to Entry level Certificates, ASDAN, Functional Skills, BTEC and GCSE, ensuring all individuals have an appropriate path that prepares them for success in future life and ensures the greatest impact on self-development.
Breadth & Depth
At Huntingdon House School we ensure that our curriculum has breadth and depth by maintaining coverage of national curriculum subjects and an appropriate range of experiences. We promote social, moral, spiritual and cultural development by making sure that areas of enrichment, emotional literacy and behaviour support are also implemented throughout the curriculum. We prepare our individuals for later life by teaching social responsibility and behaviour and supporting each individual to be a successful member of society. The following principles are all taken into consideration when writing schemes of work to ensure the breadth and depth of the curriculum:
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Challenge and enjoyment
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Coverage
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Progression
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Personalisation
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Complexity
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Coherence
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Relevance
Teaching
We provide high-quality teaching in small classes, offering individual-focused teaching with ample resources and technological support. Lessons follow a structured approach with starters, main teaching and plenaries, ensuring pace and assessment for learning. Realistic but challenging goals are set for individuals involved in target setting, and support is provided based on clear assessments of their needs.
Marking, Feedback & Assessment
Our marking and feedback processes are designed to balance teachers' work-life and individuals' learning needs. Marking and feedback relate to learning objectives and individual targets, with recognition for achievement and strategies for improvement provided. We use a range of summative and formative assessment approaches to track individuals' progress accurately and adapt teaching as required.
For semi-formal learners, we utilise the Equals MAPP assessment tool to track learning intentions and review achievements against skill development. Assessment for learning is embedded within each lesson, with techniques including questioning, feedback, modelling, self-assessment, peer assessment and summative assessments.
Home-based Learning
We employ home-based learning to complement class-based experiences and support individuals who cannot fully access the school environment due to various reasons. Strategies for facilitating learning outside the classroom include deploying online resources, providing access to learning apps, offering tutoring at home, delivering remote virtual lessons and organising life skills activities and structured learning trips in the community. We ensure that individuals can work independently, take responsibility for their learning and develop good study habits for higher achievement.
