Welcome to Cedar Class, we are following an informal curriculum. The Informal curriculum is designed for pupils with complex learning difficulties and based on a deep understanding of what the individual pupil needs. The Informal curriculum offers six schemes of work, namely My Communication, My Sensory Play, My Physical Wellbeing, My Independence, My Creativity and My Outdoor Learning.

We believe having a good relationship with staff members is paramount to the pupils’ learning experience. Through intensive interaction pupils can learn to trust the adults and the adults can learn about the pupils’ abilities and preferred communication approaches, their feelings, their likes and dislikes. Staff can then find objects and activities of interest through the safe and secure ‘friendship’ that has formed. Once established, the activities can be used to motivate the pupils to communicate, express themselves and develop independence.

Our pupils following this pathway will spend a large proportion of the day maintaining and consolidating what s/he has already learnt so as not to lose skills and understanding. The objectives, targets, sessions and evaluations will reflect this repetition. New concepts and understandings will be taught, when appropriate, in the framework of a familiar and structured session or activity. Cedar will take part in daily phonics sessions with a focus on pre reading skills and exploring environmental sounds whilst also learning about letter and sounds recognition. The timetable ensures that we are focusing on core subjects such as Literacy and Maths, whilst also giving children the opportunity to be creative through subjects such as dance art and music.