Explorational and Primary Foundation Skills Provision
Explorational Provision - Dosbarth Enfys and Dosbarth Seren
Pupils accessing the Explorational provision at Ysgol Tir Morfa will be at the sensory motor stage of development with an approximate developmental age between birth and two years. Pupils at this stage of development need a multi-sensory approach to learning, enabling pupils opportunities to explore and experience the world around them. Pupils in the Explorational Provision are described as having profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) and are aged between 3 to 19 years.
Pupils at this developmental stage are working below Progression Step 1 of the Curriculum for Wales therefore have a differentiated curriculum approach. The curriculum for this developmental stage is based upon ‘Enabling Learning’ and the ‘5 Developmental Pathways;’ belonging, communication, exploration, well-being and physical development. Our curriculum provides the firm foundations that our learners need to support development, at their own pace, towards realising the four purposes of the curriculum.
The curriculum works on a yearly long-term plan which can be adapted on an annual basis with broad overarching themes with a multi-sensory approach to learning.
The curriculum is underpinned by the 12 pedagogical principles which ensures good teaching and learning experiences are provided to pupils at their stage of development.
All pupils at this stage of development are working at developing skills on Routes for Learning and are an integral part of the curriculum. All pupils will be working at their own pace and will have their own route map which shows their individual pathways. All planned curriculum themed activities will come back to the development of Routes for Learning in order to develop pupils’ communication, exploration, well-being and independence skills.
Pupils may have close involvement with a wider team of professionals including Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Support from the Teacher for visually Impaired, and other health professionals. In the Explorational provision we strive to build close working relationships in order to develop and build on specialist advice and incorporate this into pupils’ individual programmes and target setting.
Primary Foundation Skills Provision - Dosbarth Haul
Pupils accessing the Primary Foundation Skills Provision are aged between 3 and 7 years covering nursery to approximately Year 2, however this can be flexible depending on the individual needs of the pupil. The pupils accessing the Primary Foundation Skills Provision are at different stages of development, the provision caters for all abilities within this age group. All learners are at the ‘foundation stages of learning.’ It is decided at the end of Year 2 which curriculum route they will follow next in the school depending on teacher assessment. Pupils can follow on to the Explorational, Functional or Supported provision.
Pupils following the Primary Foundation Skills Provision follow the Curriculum for Wales adapted to the needs of the learner. Pupils may be working at sensory motor stage of development following a more sensory approach to learning with some pupils typically working up to, but not limited to Progression Step 1. The curriculum is planned using the 6 AOLE’s and all aspects of the Curriculum for Wales are covered.
The curriculum works on a yearly long-term plan which can be adapted on an annual basis with broad overarching themes with a multi-sensory approach to learning.
The curriculum is underpinned by the 12 pedagogical principles which ensures good teaching and learning experiences are provided to pupils at all stages of development.
Pupils are assessed using the Foundation Phase Profile with pupils baselined the beginning of the year and re-assessed at the end of year to capture progress. Pupils learning is also documented in an individual learning journal and is updated on a termly basis to capture progress of the curriculum. Where it is applicable pupils may be assessed using Routes for Learning Map to capture pre-requisite skills to learning.
