Our Curriculum
The Aims of the Curriculum
Our curriculum recognises each child as unique and by providing individual and specialist teaching, Chiltern Wood School will facilitate learning and development, resulting in progress and achievement.
The aims are:
To prepare pupils for an adult life with the greatest possible degree of autonomy
To help pupils to develop the ability to form relationships with others based on mutual respect
To provide the means, reasons and opportunities to interact and communicate with a wide range of people
To ensure that each pupil’s physical ability is fully supported to develop and mature in strength and function.
To increase pupils’ understanding and awareness of their environment and of the world
To enable pupils to be as independent as possible by promoting their ability to express preferences, communicate needs, make decisions and choose options that other people act on and respect
To respond to the particular needs of individual pupils in order to maintain their well-being and readiness to learn
To promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
To encourage pupils to explore, to question and to challenge
To ensure pupils access their learning entitlement and that barriers to learning are reduced
To promote ‘British Values’ through our spiritual, moral, social and cultural education
To understand that before good learning can occur, basic care and safety needs are required to be met. (Maslow 1954)
Our Approach
The majority of our pupils access the EQUALS curriculum. This curriculum was developed specifically for children with additional needs and focuses around learning essential skills that will have a meaningful impact of pupils’ future lives. More information can be found here.
Our pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties access the ImPACTS curriculum, an innovative curriculum that meets fully the needs of all learners because it underpins the teaching of the key skills required for learning: Communication, Cognitive Skills, Environmental Control, Social and Emotional Well Being and Physical Skills (Gross and Fine Motor).
Alongside our core curriculum, we also use approaches / interventions such as:
Comprehensive literacy for all
Little Wandle Phonics
SCERTS
Low Arousal
Intensive Interaction
Attention Autism Bucket
Rebound therapy
Please note, we do not support an ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis) approach at Chiltern Wood. This approach does not align with the other approaches used in school and often contradicts support put in place. The approaches we use ensure that children are valued for who they are, rather than trying to change their behaviours to fit typical expectations.
PHSE/RSE Curriculum
At Chiltern Wood School our curriculum includes teaching Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) . We believe that effective Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is crucial to developing and maintaining the emotional and physical health of our pupils. We recognise children and young people with special needs and disabilities can be more vulnerable in society to abuse, or child-on- child abuse and, or sexual harassment. Learning about RSE also ensure our pupils are taught about safeguarding risks and supported to understand “what constitutes a healthy relationship”.
At Chiltern Wood our RSE curriculum reflects the needs of our children and young people with autism, speech language and communication difficulties, severe learning difficulties or profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) provides a framework for pupils to learn about emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up, relationships, and physical relationships where appropriate. It aims to equip children and young people with the information, skills and positive values to have safe, fulfilling relationships and wellbeing. RSE is important in helping children and young people to be safe, healthy and happy as they grow up and, in their future lives. RSE must always be appropriate to pupils’ age and stage of development and is an essential part of safeguarding. At Chiltern Wood School we are committed to ‘Success through wellbeing,’ this ethos is evident through our approach to RSE and PSHE.
Please read our policy here.
Our RSE programme is designed following consultation with parents, to meet the statutory requirements of DfE guidance (September 2019) and a further consult in Spring 2024. Our RSE curriculum was updated in 2024 to reflect our changing needs and curriculum.
RSE lessons are to ensure pupils receive their learning in the wider context of relationships, and are prepared for the opportunities, responsibilities and experience of adult life. Our teaching about relationship and sex education should be complementary and supportive to the role of parents and carers so will regard their views on its content and presentation.
Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of any sex education provided, but not from teaching of the biological aspects of human growth and reproduction, a statutory part of the National Curriculum for Science. If a parent wishes to withdraw their child, they should put their request in writing to the Headteacher - a reason for this decision is not necessary. However, we strongly recommend and encourage parents and carers to work with the school to ensure their children are well informed.
Careers/Preparation for Adulthood
Our careers leader is Audrey Dinley, who works closely alongside Magdalena and Sarai (secondary department leaders), as well as our preparation for adulthood working party.
Audrey is contactable using the following details:
Email: office@chilternwood.bucks.sch.uk
Phone: 01494 532621