Primary Curriculum
Throughout the Primary stage, our learners are split into three discrete class types:
- Communication Group
- Nurture
- Main Body
Within these classes, students follow Schemes of Work (external or Hollinwood’s own) and work along a Progression Map which is tailored to the needs, learning styles and outcomes for the individual.
A range of subjects are taught across all the class types, with the Intent, Implementation and Impact altered and applied accordingly.
Communication Classes – It is the aim within all the Communication classes at Hollinwood to provide secure foundations for the children and young people, which allow them to grow, thrive and achieve. We make this possible by providing a bespoke and child-centred curriculum. We focus on developing children and young people individually by using their Education Health Care Plans and setting SMART goals appropriate to their individual needs. We use a variety of methods to support their education, in line with their specific requirements using many targeted and revolutionary approaches. We use ‘Attention Autism’ as a means to engage and promote independence, which has proved extremely beneficial to enhance both the children and young peoples development, and also their love for learning. We believe all children and young people can reach their full potential using these alternative approaches and staff within these classes are dedicated and fully committed to ensuring that this happens.
Alongside these alternative methods we provide a broad and varied curriculum using National Curriculum subjects based on a thematic three-year cycle of study. Children and young people are immersed using this pedagogy, facilitating a deepening of understanding, widening of their experiences and consequently an accumulation of knowledge by ensuring that all subjects relate back to the core theme.
Communication is fundamental to all that we do within these classes, and we have an ethos of Total Communication. We use ‘Sing-along’, PEC’s, speech, gesture, symbols, photographs, and objects of reference. We use these simultaneously, allowing students an opportunity to be submerged in a variety of communicative approaches, so that they can then choose their preferred method to communicate.
Our aim is to develop the speech, language, communication and emotional regulation skills of the learners and the curriculum is designed to enable the children and young people to be able to communicate functionally and develop transferable life skills. The curriculum is highly bespoke and based upon the children and young people’s individual needs and their personal learning goals. The children and young people are taught to engage, respond, explore, persist, initiate, anticipate and communicate.
Communication Curriculum Coverage
Nurture Group – It is our aim to provide a focused learning environment that considers the wide diversity of characteristics and needs for students who struggle to prosper in a mainstream setting. The Nurture Group offers a bespoke learning programme and an adapted curriculum embracing child centred pedagogies. The Nurture Group promotes a “learning for all” ethos focusing on:
- Cognition and Learning
- Communication and Interaction
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health
- Sensory and/or Physical Difficulties
A balanced curriculum is delivered which reflects some subjects studied in the main body of the school, accompanying these are enrichment and intervention sessions that focus on communication, social, emotional and mental health needs.
Main Body – To provide children with the essential knowledge and skills that they require to achieve their full potential in life and support each child to reach their desired destination. We aim to do this by ensuring our curriculum offer is ambitious (broad and balanced) to meet the needs of all children in the following areas:
- Cognition and Learning
- Communication and Interaction
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health
- Sensory and/or Physical Difficulties
Our Curriculum
Primary-Subjects (ID 1003)
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English
English
At Hollinwood Academy, we believe in the teaching of Communication, Reading and Writing Skills as the foundation for successful learning.
It is our aim across the Primary phase to develop these skills in all of our children.
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Maths
Maths
At Hollinwood Academy, we teach maths creatively, incorporating the use of concrete manipulatives to help children understand abstract concepts and apply them to their learning.
It is our aim across the Primary phase to expertly match the National Curriculum with individual need, rather than teaching from a specific year group.
Through a combination of teaching tools such as Sensory Play and the use of Every Day examples, we aim for our children to achieve the highest level of functional maths that matches their ability.
At every stage, we want to raise the confidence of our learners.
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Science
Science
At Hollinwood Academy, we teach science using a hands on, meaningful approach. During the Primary phase, we develop Physics, Chemistry and Biology skills and knowledge and incorporate working scientifically skills within our lessons.
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EYFS
EYFS
The EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE is the gateway to school life for our reception students. We pride ourselves in providing and building strong foundations, creating stimulating and inviting learning environments which inspire and motivate the children in our care.
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Art
Art
Art at Hollinwood Academy is about ensuring every child and young person can join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and recreational activities. Children and young people are engaged and inspired by a challenging curriculum where they gain knowledge about the work of great artists and how art and design reflect and shape our history and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation. These inform their own exploration of themes relevant to their interests and life experiences.
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History
History
At Hollinwood Academy History, designed to give them an understanding of the world locally, nationally, and globally, both past and present. Our aim is to develop an inquiring approach to learning and the world around them.
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Geography
Geography
At Hollinwood, Geography is delivered as an immersive approach for all children and young people, designed to provide them with an understanding of the world locally, nationally, and globally, both past and present. Our aim is for all children and young people to develop an inquiring approach to learning and the world around them.
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HRE & RSE
HRE & RSE
At Hollinwood Academy, we firmly believe in providing a well-rounded education that goes beyond academic excellence. As part of our commitment to the holistic development of our children and young people, we place great emphasis on the delivery of Personal, Social, Health, and Relationship Education (PSHRE) experiences across Primary.
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ICT
ICT
At Hollinwood Academy, our computing curriculum aims to provide a balanced and engaging approach to teaching computational thinking, ICT, and computer science. Our curriculum is designed to appeal to all children and young people, ensuring that they develop a deep understanding of the subject.
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Music
Music
Music at Hollinwood Academy aims to cultivate children and young people’s appreciation for various genres of music and encourage them to explore the sounds that surround them. Our inclusive curriculum is tailored to meet the needs of all learners, with fully differentiated schemes of work that engage children and young people at all levels.
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Modern Foreign Languages
Modern Foreign Languages
At Hollinwood Academy, we believe that learning a foreign language provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for our pupils. It not only helps children and young people to develop their communication skills, but it also strengthens grammatical knowledge, along with other key skills such as reading, writing and listening that children and young people learn in their own language.
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Outdoor Education
Outdoor Education
At Hollinwood Academy, we truly understand the significance of community access. We firmly believe that all children and young people, regardless of their individual pathway, should have the opportunity, confidence, and appropriate support to safely explore their local community. This belief is reflected in our exciting Outdoor Education curriculum, which offers weekly opportunities for children and young people to engage with their surroundings.
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PE
PE
At Hollinwood Academy, our vision aims to provide all children and young people with a broad, high quality and relevant physical education. Through a well-structured and progressive school curriculum we enable all children and young people to develop and challenge their knowledge, skill and understanding. It is essential that children and young people develop an understanding of the benefits of exercise and make connections between physical health and positive mental health with the vision that children and young people will continue to adopt a healthy lifestyle into their adult life.
