My Communication
Curriculum offer for ‘My Communication’
Everything we do must focus on getting our students ready for their lives ‘after The Meadows’. We understand that few factors will have a greater impact on our students’ life chances in adulthood, than their ability to communicate. Therefore, across our four Key Stages and three Pathways, our core aim is to identify the right functional modes of communication for each individual student and then support them to be the best communicators they can be. Please click here to see our Communication Strategy.
Pre-Formal: For more information about our Pre-Formal Curriculum Pathway, please click here
Semi Formal:
All students within the semi-formal pathway have an identified mode of functional communication (verbal language, Makaton, PECS, symbol-supported communication, voice-output communication devices). The development of this mode forms the bulk of their ‘My Communication’ provision. In addition to the core focus of developing their expressive language, students have subject-specific teaching in Reading, Writing and Listening. Some of the students at a semi-formal level may access the Read Write Inc (RWI) Phonics Programme.
Key Stage 3
Students are exposed to all the genre outlined in the 2014 KS3 National Curriculum for English, but texts are significantly adapted to ensure developmental appropriateness. Students will be exposed to personalised texts, whole books, short stories, poems and plays with a wide coverage of genres, historical periods, forms and authors. The range will include high-quality works from:
• English literature, both pre-1914 and contemporary, including prose, poetry and drama
• Shakespeare
• seminal world literature
Please see KS3 Long Term My Communication Plan
Attention Autism
Attention Autism is a learning approach created by speech and language therapist Gina Davies, that aims to develop natural and spontaneous communication skills in Autistic children through the use of visually based and highly motivating activities. Staff at The Meadows will engage students with Attention Autism linked to different lessons across the school day and stand-alone activities.
Key Stage 4
Students will study WJEC Personal Progress Units at Entry 1. English (My Communication) is delivered through termly units of work from WJEC.
The continuous units taught across years 10 and 11are:
Developing communication skills.
Developing reading skills.
Developing writing skills
Developing Independent living skills: having your say
Students will be exposed to personalised texts, whole books, short stories, poems and plays with a wide coverage of genres, historical periods, forms and authors. The range will include high-quality works from:
• English literature, both pre-1914 and contemporary, including prose, poetry and drama
• Shakespeare
• Dilemma Stories
Attention Autism
Attention Autism is a learning approach created by speech and language therapist Gina Davies, that aims to develop natural and spontaneous communication skills in Autistic children through the use of visually based and highly motivating activities. Staff at The Meadows will engage students with Attention Autism linked to different lessons across the school day and stand-alone activities.
Key Stage 5
In Key Stage 5, students work towards accreditation in ASDAN Life Skills Challenge at WTE1 and E1. All students have termly My Communication Module to focus and develop key skills within My Communication. Students also have access to medium term plans to extend and offer a broad and balanced curriculum. To help support the consistent delivery of skills. Students will have the opportunity to apply skills across all bubble areas applying what they understand to different topics.
LSC- Developing Communication skills
LSC- Communicating and Using Information
MTP- Planning for Work
MTP- Developing Communication skills
MTP- School Newsletter/Council
MTP- Person Centred Planning
Formal:
At the formal pathway, students are proficient users of their identified mode of communication. Expressive and receptive language development remains a strong focus; however, the emphasis of learning shifts to the promotion of students’ Reading and Writing skills. Most students will follow the RWI Phonics Programme which will be delivered three times a week.
Key Stage 3
Within KS3 students work through the Long-term English Plan. This document ensures students cover the appropriate range of genre, outlined in the 2014 KS3 National Curriculum for English. Students will be exposed to personalised texts, whole books, short stories, poems and plays with a wide coverage of genres, historical periods, forms and authors. The range will include high-quality works from:
• English literature, both pre-1914 and contemporary, including prose, poetry and drama
• Shakespeare
• seminal world literature
Please see KS3 Long Term My Communication Plan.
Key Stage 4
In KS4, students’ complete units from WJEC Entry Level.
These Entry Level qualifications aim to be:
• inclusive – recognising the achievements of all learners at Entry Level through a standard currency of awarding credit;
• responsive – enabling individuals and centres to establish routes to achievement that are appropriate to their needs and facilitate progression;
• accessible – based on clear design features that are easy for all users to
Students will study WJEC Personal Progress Units at Entry 1. English (My Communication) is delivered through termly units of work from WJEC.
The continuous units taught across years 10 and 11are:
Creating Narrative
Exploring Narrative
Communicating experiences
Exploring Shakespeare
Exploring Poetry
Students will be exposed to personalised texts, whole books, short stories, poems and plays with a wide coverage of genres, historical periods, forms and authors. The range will include high-quality works from:
• English literature, both pre-1914 and contemporary, including prose, poetry and drama
• Shakespeare
• Dilemma Stories
Please see Key Stage 4 Long Term English Plan
Key Stage 5
In Key Stage 5, students work towards accreditation in ASDAN Life Skills Challenge at Entry level 2-3 and ASDAN Personal and Social Development at Entry 1-3. As students’ progress through the key stages, there is an increasing emphasis on functional literacy as the focus of the curriculum moves towards employability. All students have termly My Communication Module to focus and develop key skills within My Communication. Students also have access to medium term plans to extend and offer a broad and balanced curriculum. To help support the consistent delivery of skills. Students will have the opportunity to apply skills across all bubble areas applying what they understand to different topics.
LSC- Communicating and Using Information
LSC- Communicating in a Group
LSC – Developing Communication skills
PSD - Healthy Living
MTP- School Newsletter/Council
MTP- Planning for Work
MTP- Developing Communication skills
MTP- Person Centred Planning
For any more information regarding the My Communication Curriculum at The Meadows, please do not hesitate to contact Ariane on the following email.
Ariane Parcell - ariane.parcell@themeadows.sandwell.sch.uk
