Arc School Ansley
WarwickshireCurriculum & Approach
At Arc Ansley, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for children and young people with autism and/or social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs. Our curriculum is designed with the core values of high aspirations, achievement, acceptance, teamwork, and respect at its heart. We believe that every pupil deserves the opportunity to reach their goals, through access to a broad, balanced and relevant education which provides continuity and progression and takes individual differences into account.
We are committed to providing a personalised educational experience that equips them with the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful future. At Arc Ansley we recognise that our young people arrive in our schools often with a negative experience of education and for this reason, the curricula in our schools are adapted to reflect the needs, challenges and interests of the young people whilst still allowing pupils to gain outcomes to be proud of. We believe passionately that when children experience an environment that nurtures confidence and self-esteem, along with high expectations of learning, they begin to flourish. We are aspirational in our curriculum objectives, ensuring all children succeed to their absolute potential. A growth mindset is fostered by teaching resilience, perseverance, and the value of effort.
We have a clear focus on young people gaining the skills they need to be lifelong learners. Our curriculum provides strong foundations and opportunities for young people to collaborate and develop social skills, work independently and with their peers as inquisitive learners who are motivated to try their best, whilst fostering a thirst for learning. Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence and positive behaviour for learning. Developing pupils’ independence and motivation as learners and their sense of responsibility as future citizens is at the heart of all our teaching and learning.
The school's commitment to an accessible, rich curriculum is a whole-school responsibility that integrates academic, pastoral, and personal development. It draws from a wide range of curriculum subjects and extends beyond the classroom through targeted support at home and in the community.
Our Key Stage 3 curriculum follows national curriculum guidance and blends holistic and practical opportunities to ensure all pupils receive a range of different learning opportunities before selecting their options. Intervention work is also provided for core subjects such as English, Maths & Science to support students with Numeracy & Literacy skills where needed.
Key Stage 4 contains core subjects which all pupils study; some of these result in a qualification, others are socially based and result in skills development.
Examined/assessed core subjects:
- Maths (4 lessons)
- English (4 lessons)
- Science (4 lessons)
- PSHE (2 lessons)
Skills-based:
- Life Skills (2 lessons)
- PE (2 lessons)
- Computing (1 lesson)
- Cooking (1 lesson)
In addition to the core components, pupils can choose 2 option subjects, 1 from each block. These subjects are all examined or assessed and result in a qualification at the end of the course. Pupils are supported through a range of different assessment methods, and strategies are discussed ahead of time to support pupils through these periods.
National Curriculum, subjects and qualifications
Children and young people follow the national curriculum at the school and can take examinations at GCSE and Entry Level as well as ASDAN, BTEC and Functional Skills.
Flexible learning programme (FLP)
At Arc Ansley we recognise that the transition into a new learning environment can be stressful for Pupils, particularly if they have had poor experiences in mainstream education or had a period of time out of a learning environment. Our Flexible Learning Programme is made up of calm, kind and dedicated staff who bridge this gap and offer a phased learning approach to ensure educational, emotional and social needs are met for our pupils. We work with families and additional agencies to ensure the pace and content is matched to the needs of the child.
All pupils on our FLP programme made social, emotional and academic progress last academic year, following individual visual timetables based on their individual needs and abilities, where timetable sessions have been tailored to the individual and linked to areas of unique interest to support engagement and to secure qualifications/accreditation.
Increasing attendance and school transition over time continues to be the focus and aim and pupils have been supported to access accredited qualifications and to develop in confidence both socially and academically over time.
Outdoor and physical education
At Arc School Ansley we believe outdoor education is vital for children's development because it offers a dynamic, hands-on learning environment that goes far beyond the classroom. Immersed in nature, children build physical fitness, motor coordination, and resilience through activities like climbing, hiking, and team challenges. It also nurtures emotional well-being by reducing anxiety and boosting confidence, while fostering curiosity and creativity.
Socially, outdoor learning encourages teamwork, communication, and leadership as children collaborate and solve problems together. They also gain environmental awareness and a deeper connection to the natural world, laying the foundation for responsible citizenship and lifelong learning.
Our school site offers a host of opportunities for outdoor learning in our countryside setting, and our team of dedicated staff have built a great network of local partners to ensure all pupils experience a range of different outdoor environments and opportunities.
Life skills
Functional Living Skills relates to age-appropriate skills that are used every day for typical activities and routines, which are essential for independence. Developing these skills has immediate benefit to the learner as it enables them to complete tasks that ordinarily would need to be completed for them, which in turn supports them to develop self-esteem and self-help. Functional skills exist in all settings, throughout the day and present opportunities for teaching around the clock.
At Arc School Ansley, we believe that pupils benefit from the focused teaching of life skills in order to develop:
Adaptive skills
Safety practices
Managing daily life
Many children develop functional skills throughout their life as they encounter new situations or learn from other people. Pupils at Arc School Ansley often require specific teaching of these skills in order to learn to transfer and generalise into all areas of life and learn the appropriate critical language skills to support the development of independence.
Structure:
At Arc School Ansley, life skills teaching is largely structured around the Assessment of Functional Living Skills framework, created by James Partington and the AET Framework (Autism Education Trust). Within the AFLS, hundreds of skills are broken down into 25 different skill areas, which can be assessed, tracked and used to plan out appropriate interventions.
The Core Skill Areas:
Basic Living Skills – basic self-help, personal hygiene, self-care, self-management, routines and core communication skills.
Home Skills – essential skills for living in any household setting, whether that is with parents, supported living, with roommates or independently. Basic and advanced skills of preparing and eating meals, cleaning tasks, clothing and laundry, leisure skills and the day-to-day mechanics of a home.
Community Participation – learning to physically navigate safely around local areas, understanding road signs, safety, shopping in local grocery stores or supermarkets, ordering and eating in restaurants, telling time, making appointments, using a phone, joining clubs, accessing local facilities e.g. a library, are all important skills that some pupils need to be taught.
Independent Living Skills – developing skills required to move from the structured and supervised lifestyle of living with parents or formal compulsory education to a healthy, independent or less supported lifestyle. Making choices and taking responsibility for these choices, selecting activities, managing money and paying bills, budgeting, identifying and solving problems, household repairs, getting quotes etc.
Vocational Skills – different types of work, applications, interviews, dress codes, calling in sick and sick pay entitlements, taking direction, pay and conditions, breaks and lunch times (covered in Enterprise and PSD)
School Skills – behavioural expectations in different settings, social rules and how to look out for them, peer interactions, social navigation, relationship boundaries, school culture and rules (generalised across the whole school and all lessons).
Within these skills work the AET Arbor system will cross-curricular link with subjects such as Food Technology, Outdoor Education, PSHE, Social Communication and therapies/interventions (all where necessary and relevant). These work in line with the School Development Plan (SDP)Personal Development Year 1, part 1 and 2, in reference to embedding systems and identifying/recording pupil progress. There are a range of ways we can ensure practical subjects are meeting pupils' AET targets and needs across the school, where possible, and these are recorded and tracked.
Life Skills at Arc Ansley are taught as part of a double lesson each week, which enables staff and pupils to access off-site activities in order to develop, practice and embed skills. Teachers work in conjunction with parents to evaluate and assess skill development, sharing and reviewing targets, with input from the young person wherever possible and appropriate.
Community engagement
A core feature of our philosophy at Arc Ansley is to engage with our local community and provide our pupils with a range of learning opportunities to build confidence and experience for their future. Our pupils engage with farming experiences, working in local businesses and supporting local food banks.
As part of their Life Skills and Personal Development plans, we target and align opportunities that support their future endeavours.
As part of their Food Technology curriculum, we aim to create and deliver hot meals at key times of year to our local community.
As part of the Duke of Edinburgh award, pupils volunteer and engage with agencies and partners in their local communities such as primary schools, supermarkets or elderly people’s homes to build communication and social skills.
Enrichment and wider opportunities
The whole school enrichment approach focuses on nurturing pupils’ social and emotional growth, enhancing academic skills, and preparing them for future success through careers guidance, enrichment activities, and post-16 opportunities. Initiatives like Outdoor Education, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and Life Skills lessons foster resilience and independence, while systems such as individual rewards, house points, and bespoke pastoral interventions ensure personalised support and motivation for every student.
Outside of the core curriculum offer, we also have a fortnightly Enrichment programme where pupils select from a range of options both on and off site, such as Beauty, Sports Activities and Animal Care which has been greatly received by pupils.
Vocational skills offer
The Key Stage 4 Health and Wellbeing BTEC Level Certificate equips pupils with essential transferable skills to support life beyond ASA, focusing on practical preparation for future education and employment. The curriculum includes sector-specific qualifications, financial literacy, and career readiness through college and university open days, career events, and personalised work experience. Pupils also develop key competencies for navigating the world of work, ensuring they leave school with a strong foundation for personal and professional success.
Our dedicated team arrange and support college visits and interview preparation, such as travel training, application writing and emotional support for transitions from KS4. We deliver enrichment content through external workshops and visitors, such as apprenticeship workshops, CV writing and visits from independent speakers.
Key Stage 3 learning journeys
Our Key Stage 3 curriculum follows national curriculum guidance and blends holistic and practical opportunities to ensure all pupils receive a range of different learning opportunities before selecting their options. Intervention work is also provided for core subjects such as English, Maths & Science to support students with Numeracy & Literacy skills where needed.
Download learning journeys for each KS3 subject:
- Art
- Computing
- Design & technology
- Drama
- English
- Food & nutrition
- Humanities
- Maths
- Life skills
- Music
- Outdoor education
- PE
- PHSE
- Science
