Skills Builder Global

This content was written by

Orchard Manor School

Context

We are a Residential Special School ((4-19) for pupils with Communication and Interaction difficulties, including Autism. The pupils have a wide range of needs, abilities and interests which have necessitated a broad curriculum, but which includes a common need to develop Life Skills and communication and interaction skills so pupils are better equipped to to function as independently and confidently as possible in society. The Skills Builder programme offers the platform and resources for staff to support the development of these skills for our pupils to learn, practice and apply them to real life situations.

Overall impact

The impact of the Accelerator programme has been the positive development of pupils' essential skills across a range of scenarios, situations and environments, then the reflection on, and practice of, the skills to increase the understanding that these skills are transferrable and can be used (and developed) to help pupils in different circumstances. Several highlights have been the initial learning and practice of the skills within school, that have then been used as part of community projects (such as organising Christmas Cards and presents for residents of local care homes for the elderly), whereby skill development has been celebrated in the context of a real-life situation, with observable and tangible outcomes for the pupils work and progress.

Keep it simple

We have a shared common vocabulary throughout the school, re-enforced by posters and frequent references to aspects of essential skills during everyday interactions. We have timetable Skills Builder lessons and opportunities to use and develop skills within both the complimentary Life Skills curriculum and through everyday tasks and activities. We have scheduled teacher training and reflection meetings and report to Senior leadership and Governors as part of termly meeting agendas. We celebrate Skills Builder success in weekly assemblies using our own 'branded' certificates and awards.

Start early, keep going

The Skills Builder programme forms the foundation for essential skills development across the age ranges at Orchard Manor, but as pupils present with a range of needs and abilities, there is a significant requirement to adapt, differentiate and enhance various aspects of the programme and resources to meet the needs of pupils and allow progress, at times in small steps, across the varied groups in school.

Measure it

Orchard Manor uses a range of strategies and methods to identify the level of skills pupils have and where intervention is needed. The Education and Health Care Plans (EHCP) of all pupils form the basis of all support across the school and common targets are recorded and targeted, whilst individual and group assessment marks starting points and monitors progress as pupils continue to develop skills (using a combination of Skills Builder and our own school assessment processes). These are discussed and reflections made during termly 'progress reviews', successes identified and further targets recorded and actioned, whilst feedback is also accumulated from the pupils themselves. This has resulted in a 'triangulation' of needs and progress, with frequent collaborative reflection used ensure good outcomes for the pupils.

Focus tightly

At Orchard Manor, we have spread the skill themes across an academic year, so for example, 'Listening' is the focus for all of the first half of the Autumn Term. This allows direct teaching and practice of the theme to occur across the curriculum and re-enforcement and practice activities and opportunities are facilitated by all staff, wherever possible in their lessons or activities. The Skills Builder Hub and teachers' self-developed or collaboratively-developed accompanying resources and planning are used together to meet the needs of pupils in alignment with the focus for that particular half-term.

Keep practising

Orchard Manor uses a wide range of strategies and methods to practice essential skills. This includes the curriculum and cross-curricular activities, challenge days, projects and 'Wow' days. We also practice essential skills during vocational activities, our enrichment activites (such as forest school, Horticulture and Food Technology), through off-site trips and through our work-experience programme.

Bring it to life

Pupils engage in a range of onsite and off-site activities and projects that allow essential skills to be practised and we have found that projects that are of a set duration have been extremely successful.

What's next

Our recent move to join with an academy trust (of other special schools, one of which already uses Skills Builder) will allow shared and collaborative practice and hopefully opportunities to further enhance the development of skills through the Skills Builder programme. A challenge we have, and one which is currently being reflected on to outline possible solutions, is how we can 'entwine' the essential skills with a high quality Life Skills programme, so the essential skills can be used to directly and positively support the completion of a specific life skill (such as travelling on a bus, or following a recipe to cook a meal etc).

South West England

United Kingdom