Curriculum Organisation

At Halcyon Way we recognise that children with moderate to severe learning needs face particular challenges in learning and in life which demand us to find individual solutions. It is with this in mind that we continually seek to further develop and look to the latest research to find the best possible approaches (strategies, resources, environments etc) in all aspects of our offer to ensure that all children receive a varied, creative, engaging and appropriate curriculum offer which gives opportunities to learn skills for life.

The curriculum at Halcyon Way has been extended from Kingfisher Special School curriculum to ensure that all children’s learning needs are met. Children at Halcyon Way School are working on Flightpaths 1 – 5.

Essentially, the curriculum is built around meeting the holistic needs of each child. The four areas of each child’s Education and Health Care Plan form the basis of priorities for provision.  Cognition and Learning are addressed through one of the five Flightpaths (3 subject specific – dependant on child’s cognitive level, pre-subject or non-subject specific), underpinned by the other three areas of Communication and Interaction, Sensory and Physical and Wellbeing (Social, Emotional and Mental Health). These three areas are non-runway specific and are highly personalised.

  • Flightpath 1 – non-subject – Runways 1-7

Children working within Runways 1-7, at the very early and emergent stages of learning, will focus on key personalised learning through non-subject specific teaching. Children learn predominately through

  • Flightpath 2 – pre-subject – Runways 8 – 9

Children working within Runways 8 and 9, who are learning to learn and beginning to develop some independent learning strategies, will experience some subject specific teaching in Early English and Early Maths but still through a creative, cross curricula approach. Children learn predominately through modelling.

  • Flightpath 3 – subject specific – Runways 10 – 12

Those children working within Runways 10 – 12 will be developing their independent learning further and continuing to conceptualise their learning through subject specific teaching and learning yet within a creative, cross curricula approach. Children learn predominately through making connections.

  • Flightpath 4 – subject specific– Runways 12 – 15

Children working within Runways 12-15 will be further developing independent learning and conceptual learning through subject specific teaching and learning yet within a creative, cross curricula approach.

  • Flightpath 5 – subject – Runways 16 – 18

Children working within Runways 16-18 will be further developing independent learning and conceptual learning through subject specific teaching and learning yet within a creative, cross curricula approach.

Cognition & Learning

5 Flightpaths
Within each flightpath are runways

Non Subject Flightpath 1 Runways 1-7Pre Subject Flightpath 2
Runways 8 & 9
Subject Specific
Flightpaths 3-5
Runways 10-11, 12 -15, 16-18
Cognition and Learning:
Being In Nature
Play
Using Technology
Respond - Create - Interact
Sensory Food Play

Communication and Interaction:
Communication
Attention Autism
Early English Skills (Communication and Interaction link to EHCP)
Move and Mark
Phonics
English (Sensory and Physical link, Communication and Interaction link to EHCP)
Phonics
Early Maths SkillsMaths
Creative Development
Food Discovery
Art
Design and Technology
Music
Understanding of the World
Nature Explore
Science
Computing
Geography
History
Languages
RE
WellbeingTime For Me (Wellbeing link to EHCP)PSHE (Wellbeing link to EHCP)
Sensory and Physical:
Physical Development
Move and Mark
Visual Skills Development
Skill Building
Physical Development (Sensory and Physical link to EHCP)PE (Sensory and Physical link to EHCP)

WALT (What Are we Learning Today)

Walt the owl is a symbol of learning used within each class to cue children into learning time. He takes the form of a hand puppet and a wooden ‘whistling’ Walt, giving an auditory cue in addition to the visual and tactile. Walt is used to help children recognise and celebrate learning. Children can be awarded Walt stickers to recognise significant achievements.


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