Phoenix Curriculum intent

At Phoenix, we are dedicated to creating an inclusive and supportive curriculum that meets the diverse needs of all pupils. Our approach focuses on fostering academic achievement while addressing social, emotional, and behavioural challenges. We aim to motivate and challenge pupils to reach their full potential by developing key skills such as self expression through spoken language (oracy), creative thinking, problem-solving, and emotional regulation. We place great emphasis on helping pupils understand and manage their own feelings and behaviours, while also learning to respond empathetically to the needs of others. By encouraging pupils to take risks in learning without fear of failure, we cultivate resilience and confidence across all areas of the curriculum.

Our curriculum is designed to be meaningful, engaging, and relevant to every pupil. We utilise the local environment to enhance learning through interactive and practical experiences. By integrating core and foundation subjects through cross-curricular projects, we provide an immersive and cohesive learning experience that supports pupils in developing independence. We also ensure that learning is systematically structured, promoting the key skills necessary for academic success. Through a combination of first-hand experiences, creative opportunities, our curriculum remains exciting and stimulating while catering to individual learning needs. Our curriculum, particularly regular educational visits, aim to help pupils make meaningful connections between their personal experiences and the wider world, fostering real-world understanding and beginning to prepare them for future careers.

Recognising the unique needs of each pupil, our curriculum is highly scaffolded to offer personalised learning experiences. Small group teaching allows us to tailor lessons to the specific learning and social-emotional needs of each child, helping to close learning gaps. Pupils are allocated to mixed-year groups based on their needs in a ‘stage not age’ approach, ensuring targeted support through pupils being in the class that can best meet them where they currently are. Regular reviews of pupil progress ensure that learning goals are aligned and continuously adapted. Through collaboration and shared strategies, we work closely with mainstream schools to ensure pupils’ success in all learning environments. This includes, in line with our nurture principles, a comprehensive transition plan for all students returning to a mainstream school.