Curriculum

Oaktree: Connect with Your Greatness

Our curriculum is structured around three ambitious Journeys, each geared towards gradually scaffolding students as they grow into adulthood by supporting them on a path towards independence, achievement and community contribution:

1. Confident Community Engagement: This journey develops self-awareness, communication and life skills, empowering students to participate actively and confidently in their communities through a thematic, non-subject specific approach.

2. Community Engagement and Employment Opportunities: At Key Stage 4/5, this journey equips students with the skills and knowledge necessary for future employment, offering opportunities to prepare for OCR Entry-Level exams at Levels 1, 2, or 3.

3. Further Study and Skilled Work Opportunities: For students on this journey, the focus is on advanced preparation for further education, skilled work and independent living. Some students at Key Stage 4/5 also prepare for GCSEs in English and Maths, enabling them to achieve nationally recognised qualifications.

Each journey at Oaktree is carefully tailored to the strengths and needs of every student, enabling them to progress at their own pace and achieve their aspirations. Our dynamic approach builds adaptable skills and confidence, fostering success across diverse contexts.

At Oaktree, relationships are at the heart of everything we do. Through trust, empathy and collaboration, we nurture emotional resilience and self-confidence, helping students build meaningful connections and a strong sense of self.

Our curriculum serves as a bridge to independence, empowering students to explore their potential and achieve their goals. Together, we create a community where greatness is celebrated in every individual.

Our Core Values in Action

We cultivate courage by encouraging students to embrace challenges and aim high. Connection lies at the heart of our work, fostering strong relationships and emotional awareness. Through growth, we celebrate achievements and embrace lifelong learning. We build a sense of community, ensuring students feel valued and supported within a network of peers, educators and families. Ultimately, these values enable students to discover and embody their greatness.

Intent

Oaktree’s curriculum is designed to help every student connect with their greatness by fostering meaningful relationships and preparing them for the next stage of their lives. The focus is on building students’ skills and knowledge in ways that emphasise connection, growth and courage by addressing their unique needs. Preparing for Adulthood is central to our approach, equipping students with the tools for fulfilling, independent lives and active participation in their communities. Our aim is for students to leave Oaktree having taken confident steps into adulthood, ready to embrace the opportunities and challenges ahead.

The curriculum supports students through three key journeys, tailored to their aspirations and abilities. Journey 1 focuses on confident community engagement, enabling students to develop essential life skills and strong connections within their communities. Journey 2 emphasises both community engagement and employment opportunities, preparing students to thrive in supported or independent work environments. Journey 3 provides further study and skilled work opportunities, supporting students in achieving qualifications and specialised skills for their chosen careers.

By offering these personalised journeys, the curriculum nurtures connection, community and personal development. Through engagement, communication, independence and the retention of skills, students grow in confidence and capability. Progress includes both the lateral application of skills in different contexts and the long-term mastery of knowledge, ensuring every student is prepared for a meaningful and successful future.

Implementation

At Oaktree, teaching is personalised to meet each student’s unique needs, fostering connections, independence, and the achievement of their full potential. Teachers work collaboratively with parents, carers and professionals to set and review key EHCP targets, guided by the school’s core values of connection, growth, community, greatness and courage. Individualised plans are designed to support development across all curriculum areas, using strategies such as Intensive Interaction, visual support, multisensory delivery, spaced repetition, learning through play, targeted developmental activities and vocational-based learning through our pathways. Therapy programmes are integrated as needed, balanced with full access to the curriculum.

Daily reading sessions and carefully adapted Maths and English lessons build confidence and core skills, with progress monitored through standardised assessments. Communication, literacy, numeracy and personal development are embedded throughout learning. Mixed-age classes, grouped by needs, abilities and social factors, promote connection and community while enabling reinforcement and progression over time.

The curriculum also features rich enrichment opportunities, including citizenship projects like Red Nose Day, national events, collaborations with external professionals and themed activities such as World Book Day. These experiences develop wider personal skills and foster community engagement, ensuring students enjoy a dynamic and inspiring school life.

Impact

The curriculum enables students to grow, achieve their potential and transition successfully to their next stage, whether in education, employment, or community life. Success is reflected in students achieving EHCP outcomes, developing independence, accessing resources within their community and gaining qualifications. Students are empowered to apply their skills in diverse contexts, building courage and confidence as they integrate their local area. Preparing for Adulthood outcomes, Employment, Health, Community Inclusion and Independent Living, are key measures of success. Through connection, growth and community, students achieve greatness, with progress celebrated at every stage and evidenced in personalised reports and achievements.