Positive learning experiences

Our students in Pathway 1, for whom the National Curriculum is not relevant follow an informal and very personalised curriculum, based on a theme to offer the stimulating hooks into learning.

Learning experiences are fun, rooted in play and richly stimulating sensory experiences designed to promote engagement. These experiences include: sensory stories, cooking, music, sensory massage, community inclusion, arts and intensive interaction.

Inclusion and diversity is stimulated by termly celebration days linked to the topic, as well as wider festival celebrations and experiences such as Eid, Black History Month, Diwali,  Christmas and curriculum-linked arts performances

Community inclusion

We work closely with community partners to give our students opportunities to access stimulating experiences within the wider south Birmingham community which include:

• Rush, Stirchley (Trampoline Park)

• Mencap (biking at Canon Hill Park)

• Touchbase Pears Selly oak (Music and Arts sessions)

• The MAC (cafés)

• Cocks Moors leisure Centre (swimming)

Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

The Curriculum is used as a vehicle to stimulate direct teaching of EHCP targets in all lessons.

Long-term aims are broken down into termly SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound) targets that enable us to structure and sequence learning to the long-term aim. These EHCP short-term targets are then linked to the curriculum’s areas of learning.

Teachers will use objectives within the informal progression framework, alongside each student’s EHCP short-term targets to plan, structure and sequence teaching and learning each ½ term.

They will capture evidence of learning through photos and films gathered via a cloud-based assessment system ‘Evidence for Learning’ (EfL). This forms the student’s individual learning journey log.

Preparing for Adulthood

We aspire for students in Pathway 1 to access destinations that provide meaningful stimulation, communication, behavioural support, and care needs. Pathway 1 students will mostly access destinations with staff trained in supporting adults with learning disabilities who can display behaviour of challenge and have trained staff in supporting medical needs.

Students in Pathway 1 will mainly access an adult social care-funded route after leaving Fox Hollies. A small number of students with long-term complex health needs and severe learning disabilities will access a continuing health care-funded route (CHC). This will help them gain access to a provision that can care for their medical needs and learning disabilities.

Careers/destinations

• Care/day centre provision 2-5 days a week all year round, long-term provision (adult social care funded)

• Residential care that provides care support needs and educational/recreational activities within one service (adult social care funded)

• Specialist education provision 2-5 days a week term time, funded for 1-3 years (funded through SENAR)

• No destination requested - some students will stay at home post-19.

Students living arrangements after Fox Hollies

• Residential care setting (adult social care funded)

• Live at home and receive additional support with allocated care hours (adult social care funded)

• Live at home and accesses respite for a set amount of days per year

• Live at home with all care needs met by family and receive no additional support