At Options Higford, our curriculum helps every pupil develop the skills, confidence and independence to lead a fulfilling life. Guided by our values of Kind, Together, Achieve, we provide meaningful learning experiences that build on each pupil’s strengths, interests and individual needs.

Every pupil has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Its outcomes form the golden thread running through their personalised curriculum, connecting classroom learning, specialist support and everyday experiences. We support development in communication and interaction, cognition and learning, social and emotional wellbeing, sensory and physical skills, and independence.

Our curriculum is organised into four pathways: Engage, Explore, Apply and Future. These provide different approaches to learning, with flexibility to reflect each pupil’s development.

• Engage: develops connection, communication, engagement and awareness through sensory experiences, Intensive Interaction and motivating activities.
• Explore: builds early communication, literacy, numeracy and independence through practical, sensory and play-based learning.
• Apply: supports pupils to develop and apply their knowledge and skills through structured teaching, practical activities and real-life situations.
• Future: focuses on preparation for adulthood, including community participation, everyday living skills, relationships and opportunities linked to future aspirations.

 

Communication is central to every pathway. Pupils are supported to express their choices, needs, ideas and feelings through their individual combination of speech, signs, symbols, objects of reference and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). We create opportunities to communicate throughout the school day, helping pupils develop confidence and increasing independence.

Our curriculum brings together literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, creative arts, music, physical development, outdoor learning, PSHE and relationships, sex and health education (RSHE). Practical experiences including cooking, horticulture, shopping and community visits help pupils make connections between their learning and everyday life. Our Higford 50 experiences further enrich the curriculum, widening pupils’ opportunities to explore, participate and discover new interests.

We recognise that progress looks different for every pupil. Personalised targets, our Higford Engagement Steps and Achieve Levels help us identify and celebrate meaningful steps in learning. Evidence for Learning captures achievements across activities and environments, alongside appropriate curriculum assessments. Where suitable, pupils work towards accreditation through ASDAN, AQA Unit Awards and appropriate English and mathematics qualifications.

Relationships, connection and belonging underpin our approach. Predictable routines, visual support, individual sensory provision and positive behaviour support help pupils feel safe, understood and ready to learn. Working closely with families and our multidisciplinary team, we support pupils to develop emotional regulation, confidence and skills they can use across different settings. Our ambition is for every pupil to experience success, have their voice heard and make progress towards a future that is meaningful to them.