On this page, you will find details about our curriculum offer at The Spring School. If you have any queries or wish to find out more about our offer, please contact us at enquiries@springschool.org.uk
Spring School will give pupils the support and challenge they need to reach their full learning potential. The school will have academic, personal, social and independence targets to provide autistic pupils with ambitious aspirations. Pupils will work towards gaining academic and vocational qualifications, that will help them succeed in the world beyond school. The curriculum complies with both the Equalities Act 2010 and Special Needs and Disability Act 2014 to ensure it is accessible and aspirational for all.
See the Spring School curriculum map.
Academic curriculum
Once at capacity, our core class model will be up to eight pupils with a teacher and one teaching assistant supported by curriculum leads and a transdisciplinary team.
The primary and secondary school curriculums will enable pupils to develop the academic and social skills necessary for success.
Our primary school will be made up of classes, each with a different teacher who will teach most of the curriculum. In addition, some specialist teachers will be responsible for subjects such as physical education and music.
Students in the secondary school will work with a range of subject specialists and, where appropriate, engage in social and learning opportunities at nearby mainstream secondary, Chessington School.
We will enable pupils to achieve a range of academic and vocational qualifications that best suit their learner profiles and needs. Pupils will follow the national curriculum, which includes classes in English, maths, science, art, computing, history, music (please see our music development plan), physical education and food technology. All pupils will experience explicit RSE, PSHE and RE teaching on a weekly basis, with additional teaching opportunities as they arise and tailored to improving the Quality of Life and lived experiences of pupils. The designated phonics scheme, used across the school, is Sounds-Write.
Parents have the right to withdraw their children from religious education and/or collective worship, after discussion with the school. From age 16, pupils can choose for themselves to opt out of collective worship if they wish. However, they cannot opt out of receiving religious education without parental consent until they are 18.
Social curriculum
Alongside the academic curriculum is the social curriculum, which is essential for the holistic development and wellbeing of pupils.
In our social curriculum there are two focus areas: PSHE/Citizenship and Wellbeing. PSHE/Citizenship lessons take place a minimum of twice per week at KS2-KS4.
The curriculum is based on the Programme of study issued by the PSHE Association and our bespoke curriculum.
PSHE Association topics fall under three core areas: health and wellbeing; relationships (include RSE); and living in the wider world.
Our bespoke curriculum covers six core themes: self awareness; self-care, support and safety; managing feelings; changing and growing; healthy lifestyles; the world I live in.
Another core component of effective PSHE is ensuring that children are developing skills that will support them to transition onto the best next steps when they leave school. We ensure that children are equipped with these skills through overt learning and opportunities such as trips and visits to local businesses to learn about jobs in a variety of different sectors and through personalised transition planning. Take a look at this visual resource which illustrates this journey.
