Curriculum Subject Overview

Daily Living Skills & Work Related Learning

Context

At Walton Leigh, Work Related Learning (WRL) and Citizenship are part of KS3 Theme Curriculum, covering 1 term in each year.

14-19 department uses a combined curriculum for Daily Living Skills (DLS) and Work Related Learning drawn from the EQUALS Moving On Curriculum. This vocational subject is taught discretely and it is a core subject for all students in the 14-19 department. The Curriculum is divided in 3 units (one per term) covering a wide context for our students to learn. The emphasis is on planning activities, which provide opportunities to support students’ individual learning needs/targets, whilst being delivered within a creative, engaging and stimulating framework. This subject provides long term independence learning skills, preparation for adulthood and is taught alongside practical work experience and variety of community learning as appropriate.

Intent

To focus on each students personal ILP targets within a framework of creative, engaging and stimulating activities and enrich their experience in this subject area
To develop independent skills and skills for life
To prepare students to move from KS4 to KS5 and to Post 19 placements
To develop a sense of belonging, curiosity and a love of learning
To promote engagement and fun and 'make every day count’
To promote an awareness of social skills, emotional regulation, wellbeing and positive mental health

Implementation

All learning is implemented through a holistic approach with parents, families, and other professionals
Walton Leigh 14-19 department Scheme of Work are adapted from EQUALS Moving On curriculum and tailored for the individualised needs of the children to ensure all can access engaging activities, rise to the challenge and celebrate their achievements
Students ILP targets are embedded throughout each lesson and across all aspects of their school day, so the main learning within the lesson may not necessarily relate to the subject targets, but more to the ILP targets e.g. learning to attend, making choices, developing motor skills etc.
Students’ progress in each subject area is monitored and recorded and used to inform next steps in their learning. Parents are informed of progress through parents evening and annual reports.
The content and quality of lessons, delivery and impact on the individual students is closely monitored by the class teacher, subject coordinator and through learning walks/lesson observations
Some students, particularly those on the Semi-Formal Pathway, will be able to learn and recall specific subject knowledge
DLS and WRL learning is enhanced by appropriate educational visits, work experiences, mini enterprise projects and college links

Subject Specific Knowledge.

Gardening

To build awareness of our environment and ecology, e.g. recycling
To build personal skills such as responsibility and care
To develop independence and work skills, including safety when using gardening tools
To learn how to plan ahead and design during gardening project
To use correct tools for a variety of gardening jobs

Food preparation

To experience making a variety of food and express preferences
To learn about healthy choices and different food groups
To build skills for life such as planning for cooking, shopping or serving others
To cook for different occasions, e.g. staff lunches, picnics, main meals, snacks
To use a variety of kitchen equipment correctly
To learn about health and safety during food preparation

Household management

To gain independent skills linked to everyday household chores
To learn about responsibility and caring for our environment
To use a variety of household tools and equipment correctly and safely
To learn about laundry maintenance and appearance
To build independence and social skills such as helping others
To develop organisational skills during household tasks

Jobs and the workplace

To learn about different jobs, equipment and clothing needed and activities undertaken.
To learn about jobs in the community and what people do in those jobs and how they affect us, including production line, people that help us etc.
To build awareness of work place, work rules, skills and the process of finding a job, e.g. filling in an application form, understanding time management

Self-advocacy, self-expression and expressing choices

To gain skills to express agreement, disagreement and own opinions
To build awareness of appearance and communication rules at work and when looking for a job

Work experience and mini enterprise

To be able to adopt a positive mind-set, be creative, overcome obstacles and shape their attitude towards work and future
To take part in practical work experience in and out of school. To understand what activities need to be done and in what order

Health and safety in the workplace

To learn about safety equipment, why and how it is used
To understand what could be a potential hazard and how to fix it
To build awareness of basic first aid

Community learning

To learn about the wider world
To use communication and mathematical skills in real life situation
To develop life skills related to shopping and other educational visits
To experience and adapt to different environments
To build social skills in variety of situations and environments
To experience college environment and prepare for transition to next placements

Impact

Students have a sense of community belonging, citizenship and enjoy learning
Students are prepared for their adult life and next steps in education, social care or supported living
Students move on within the department and to their next placement as happy, inquisitive, independent and confident learners who can make their own choices, opinions and needs known
Students can use the knowledge and skills they have gained with their family, friends and community
Students become as independent as possible, emotionally resilient with an ability to regulate and self- occupy
Students are prepared for a diverse society, can integrate well and contribute to their community or work place
Students enjoy a purposeful, successful adult life

The Intent, Implementation and Impact of the curriculum is also subject to peer evaluation through Walton Leigh’s involvement in the SPAN Curriculum and Assessment group and the Surrey and West London Special School Network