Oak Lodge is organised into three departments for teaching and learning according to the chronological age of the pupils; Key Stage 3 (11-13, NC Y7/Y8), Key Stage 4 (14-16, NC Y9-Y11) and Post-16 (16-19). The number of classes within each department varies between 4 and 8. Class sizes vary between 6 and 12 pupils who are assigned to a class that best fits their particular needs and levels of cognition. A senior member of staff leads each department and regular multi-disciplinary meetings are held to review and monitor the progress of all pupils. This organisational structure enables us to group pupils in mixed-age classes that help the school to deliver a relevant, flexible and challenging curriculum meeting the diversity of pupil’s needs.
Drawing on the school’s long experience in education for young people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions, we aim to create learning environments that are ‘autism-specific’ and provide an eclectic range of teaching methods and interventions matched to an understanding of pupil needs. The school has adopted the SPELL approach recommended by the National Autistic Society: Structure, Positive (attitudes and appropriate expectations), Empathy, Low arousal and Links (with parents and other professionals). For ‘autism-specific’ classroom environments, routines are structured based on TEACCH principles in order that they may be experienced as safe, reliable and predictable and that social and educational challenges are appropriate and meaningful.
The development of effective learning for all remains our highest priority, promoting all pupil’s enjoyment and commitment to achieving the best possible progress. We aim, above all, to develop independence and prepare pupils for the next steps in their learning, to meet the challenge of further education, training or employment and to equip them with the confidence, knowledge, skills and support to make informed choices whilst at school and throughout their future lives.
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