At New College Durham we have been exploring innovative ways to enhance the curriculum for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. We are currently using a Recognising and Recording Progress and Achievement (RARPA)-based approach to capture progression through the skills elements required to enable students to be the best they can. I felt that the opportunity to enhance the learner journey with the Skills Builder approach would give the opportunity for all learners to show progression, and mastery of the skills highlighted whilst giving a focus for teaching and support staff to facilitate and celebrate student achievement. All students work towards the 'Preparing for Adulthood' framework which includes developing skills in Employability, Staying Healthy, Independent Living and Building Friends, Relationships and Community. The essential skills and supported offer provides a seamless transition to track, measure and sustain growth for all students.
The programme has been a central factor of the blended learning approach which the college has adopted this year. The adaptability of the team and the resources has been valuable. Students have been able to feel successful and see their progress which has provided intrinsic motivation. The staying positive resources have been very valuable for mental health provision during a particularly challenging year. The virtual trips were so well received that students opted to come in on their day off.
Next year, Benchmark will be used at the start, middle and end of term to determine where students are on the framework. Students will then be assigned Launchpad work. We will start to work with English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students and build the programme into world skills. We will use Challenge Days as part of our transition programme and keep warm activities over the summer. Skills Builder will be written into policies and rewards. We would like to continue to support with the Profound and Multiple Learning Disability (PMLD) working group.