At Dysart School we believe that high standards result from an emphasis on child centred, creative, cross-curricular and skills-based learning. We strive to provide a curriculum that is flexible, exciting and personalised that fits each and every one of our pupils rather than making our pupils fit the curriculum.
Our curriculum consists of three curriculum pathways; pre-formal, semi-formal and formal. These curriculum pathways support our recognition that pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties face learning challenges that can’t be supported unless they are immersed within a curriculum that demands us to provide a personalised and varied approach to our teaching in order to prepare them for life after Dysart.
The ‘Rainbow curriculum’ has a themed approach. A thematic approach ignites pupils’ motivation to learn and take ownership for their own skills and development. It has capacity to inspire a highly personalised, broad and balanced curriculum with stimulating cross curricular links as well as support a skill based learning approach. At Dysart, we know that it is through these themes that our learners have opportunity to make connections from one area of learning to another as well as deepen and transfer skills learnt at school to their home and local community.
Teachers plan personalised units of work in correlation to a pupils’ curriculum pathway. Learners will also have their own ‘personal development’ outcomes which will be devised from their EHCP further ensuring that all dimensions of learning are explored and developed.
We have devised our curriculum on a four yearly cycle, cross curricular approach that incorporates all mandatory subjects. This rolling plan supports a balance of stimulating contexts for learning through different learning experiences, themes and subjects.
Our Rainbow curriculum is a working, developing document, whereby planning, teaching and learning is continually evaluated, monitored and revised in light of subject monitoring.
Please see below for an illustration of our Rainbow Curriculum
