Intent

At The Maple School we intend for our learners to: -

• Leave us having gained the social skills and aptitudes necessary for life in the modern world.

• Be competent to the highest level possible (based on their starting points) in a range of foundation skills – most notably in Reading, Writing and Mathematics

• Be able to communicate well with peers and adults who are both known and not known to them.

• Have the skills and ability to manage their emotions and to understand situations which may put them at risk.

• Have accessed a curriculum which provides them with foundational Maths, English & Science alongside a range of life skills and personal development.

• Be physically and mentally healthy.

• Have gained a range of life skills which will help equip them for life.

• Have experiences beyond an academic offer which support them in both closing the gap caused by any disadvantage and allow them to excel at the things they enjoy.

• Achieve their individual potential in terms of academic achievement based on their starting points, aspirations and the information we have about them.

• Understand the value of working collaboratively with others as part of Team Maple

• Have secured and sustain education, employment and training beyond The Maple School

In short, our curriculum is designed so that students not only learn but thrive during their time at The Maple School.

Implementation

Themes provide the context

Our curriculum themes provide the context for learning for each half term. They are designed to cover broad and balanced elements of the wider school curriculum and to broaden students perceptions of the world. The themes are designed to recognise that most of our children have had large chunks of time out of school or have not had access to a reduction in timetable whilst in school.

Our themes can be accessed on the link below.

Curriculum strands provide the content

Our curriculum strands of: -

• Foundational English (Reading, Writing and Oracy)

• Foundational Maths

• Foundational Science

• Personal Development

• Physical Development

• Life & Learning

• Enrichment

• Thrive

provide the content to be taught, the detail of this can be found on our subject specific pages. Foundational English and Maths underpin all of our learning, whilst our Life & Learning, Science, Personal and Physical Development and enrichment provide both the real world preparation and emotional regulation support for real life.

The Maple Way

At The Maple School, learning for our SEMH students is both flexible and creative, considering the individual needs of our students.

Students and staff follow The Maple Way in terms of our approach to Teaching. The relevant sections of The Maple Way relating to our approach to Teaching & Learning are in the file below.

Breadth

Our curriculum across all year groups offers significant breadth. Whilst the focus is firmly on foundational skills (English and maths). Students also study science, art, music, drama, physical and personal development, religious education, technology, cooking, outdoor learning, social and community participation and humanities through our thematic approach.

Theme Weeks & Enrichment beyond school

In addition to our universal offer, students also experience between 10 and 12 theme weeks throughout the year. These cover areas such as Equality and Diversity, Holocaust Memorial week, Anti bullying week and many more. Further details of these is on our Theme Weeks page.

We also offer enrichment beyond school and aim for each class to visit a wide variety of places during the year from local places of worship, Blackpool Grand Theatre, Blackpool Zoo, Blackpool Tower and Dungeons, Beaches, Piers and many more. We are particularly proud of our partnership with Showtown Blackpool who host our children for the world of work programme.

Therapeutic

We provide an inclusive and supportive environment for our students. To meet their diverse needs, we employ a variety of therapies, including speech and language support, sensory room sessions, draw and talk, resilience coaching and Lego therapy. This forms our Additional Therapeutic Support offer (ATS).

Safeguarding

Our approach encompasses a comprehensive safeguarding and wellbeing strategy. We teach online safety while promoting tolerance of diversity and actively addressing anti-bullying. We also emphasise the importance of staying safe at home, in school, and within the local community, and we work to protect students from extremist influences. In addition, we focus on fostering healthy relationships, providing drug education, and equipping students with essential health and first aid knowledge. Our use of zones of regulation further supports the development of emotional awareness and self-management skills.

Impact

Outcomes for Children

At Maple, our students are empowered to develop the skills necessary for self-correction and the cultivation of mature, responsible attitudes. Our dedicated teachers foster an environment that supports rapid progress in learning, ensuring that every student reaches their full potential.

The file below shows examples of the qualifications that children could achieve through our offer.

Evaluation and Assessment

At Maple, we have developed a comprehensive evaluation and assessment framework designed to support the academic and personal development of every student.

Students are assessed each half term against the identified outcomes within their EHC Plans aswell as foundational English and maths. In addition we use termly Thrive assessments to track progress against social and emotional targets.

All students are assessed twice a year against NGRT (Reading Test) to ensure intervention can be put in place. We utilise a range of specialised tools and methods, including BVPS3 and dyslexia portfolios. Additionally, our process is reinforced by internal school evaluations, external monitoring and assessments by external improvement partners, and rigorous teaching and learning moderation.