2 Pathways

Our Pathways

Within our blended offer, pupils have access to 2 agile pathways.  Due to the nature of our pupils’ individual needs, we acknowledge that many may present with a ‘spikey profile’ and their personalised learning may span different pathways for different areas of learning.

Throughout the school, students who are not at the stage of learning though subject specific learning follow our Semi-Formal Pathway. This incorporates Early Years and the Foundation Stage (EYFS) (19^th January 2024).  Our Bespoke Semi-Formal pathway offer includes Peterhouse Preparing for Adulthood Semi-Formal Curriculum and further adapted learning in: 

• Functional English
• Functional Maths
• Expressive Arts
• Physical Development
• Understanding of the World

Our Formal Pathway is based on an adapted National Curriculum offer for Key Stages 1 to 3 (Curriculum 2014) with Key Stages 4 and 5 delivering relevant accredited courses.  These frameworks set out the breadth and depth of study and the skills and attributes for learning that pupils need to acquire and experience.  This transition into adapted subject specific learning introduces a more formal approach and strives to build on and maintain the best practices of our Semi-Formal provision. Pupils are expected to use and apply their knowledge and skills in a range of learning opportunities. 

Throughout both pathways the emphasis lies in ‘how’ we understand autism and each individuals’ personalised needs and readiness for learning that is unique to them. Our approaches will always be fluid and encompass our hidden curriculum to support our pupils to become successful adults with autism.

This is organised to ensure that the hidden curriculum of 5 point star, drivers, teaching styles and one voice is fundamental to how we teach.

Accredited Learning

At Peterhouse, we believe that equipping students with qualifications is important for their chances to be successful and secure employment.  However without the parallel skills of the ability to communicate effectively, use thinking skills and understand the world around them, employment will not be a realistic possibility.  The curriculum is the vehicle through which we develop the skills and strategies needed to prepare all of our young people to become lifelong learners and independent adults with autism. Our key focus is on communication, social understanding, thinking and sensory processing and on overcoming the unique barriers to learning imposed on each pupil by their autism. We work with pupils’ motivations and interests, including their sensory preferences.

The curriculum in the FE department is the vehicle through which the specific needs of young people with autism are addressed and independence maximised.  The curriculum reflects the range of cognitive, social, cultural, spiritual, moral and physical needs of the students.  Through differentiation it aims to be functionally relevant, promoting consistency and progression.  It is individually interpreted according to the strengths, needs and interests of the student.

A range of accredited learning courses are available for students working at pre entry level, entry level and Levels 1 and 2.  Courses focus on life skills; work related learning and functional skills.  Qualifications and awards include:

Peterhouse Preparing for Adulthood

We recognise that our student’s autism can impact significantly on their vulnerability as an adult and addressing this is embedded in everything we do.  We recognise that our youngest students are on a journey through to adolescence and beyond to adulthood and need to be prepared for this as early as possible, in an age appropriate way.  Through the Preparing for Adulthood curriculum we aim to ensure our pupils are able to

• keep themselves safe
• develop their independence
• maintain physical and emotional wellbeing
• make a positive contribution to their community and others, understanding the impact, both positively and negatively, they can have on themselves and others.
• Keep up to date with the demands of an advancing technological world and to keep themselves safe online

In keeping with our curriculum drivers, the Preparing for Adulthood Curriculum is a vehicle through which our student’s autism is addressed.  Each activity and experience offered is aimed to address the differences in communication, social understanding, thinking, and for some, sensory perception or sensory processing.  The statutory elements of PSHE and RSE are incorporated within this offer (DfE September 2021).  Content is addressed through whole class and small group lessons, but also through an individualised approach through personal tutorials and interventions.  The 5 frameworks consist of:

Throughout the Preparing for Adulthood Curriculum there are opportunities to teach Fundamental British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.  The promotion of Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development will be embedded throughout, paying particular regard to the specific learning needs of our students.