The Semi-Formal Learning Pathway

Learners at St Giles School follow one of three learning pathways – Pre-Formal, Semi-Formal or Formal. The Semi-Formal pathway is mainly for those who have Severe Learning Difficulties. These learners are developing emergent skills and may be able to access aspects of the National Curriculum.

Semi-Formal learners require a high level of adult support, both for their learning needs and their care, and are likely to need some sensory support with their curriculum broken down into small steps. Some of our Semi-Formal pupils communicate by signing, eye-pointing, E-Tran, Eyegaze, simple evolving language, communication with symbols, pictures, objects and PECS.

Our Semi-Formal learners’ attainment is likely to stay within our school’s Stepping Stone and Bridging Levels. The school ensures that there is fluidity between pathways, allowing for a personalised approach, that enables pupils to benefit from approaches from other pathways and to move between pathways as appropriate to their development.

All our Semi-Formal pupils follow timetables that include the following six areas:

Cognition and Challenge – including maths, science, IT and humanities
Communication and Literacy
Physical and Sensory
Independence
Personal and Emotional Well-Being
Creative – including art, drama, music

Intent – What are we trying to achieve through our Semi-Formal Curriculum?

The Semi-Formal Learning Pathway aims to provide a curriculum that:

provides explicit instructions and sufficient time for learners to repeat, practise, maintain and consolidate skills to develop independence;
develops learners’ levels of engagement by finding out what interests and motivates them;
provides meaningful contexts for learning that use real-life materials and experiences, concrete resources and practical every day activities so that learners link experiences and make connections;
supports learners to develop an awareness of, and interest in, themselves and their immediate surroundings and environment;
recognises the importance of play and games as motivational curriculum activities that allow repetition and consolidation of skills;
recognises that when using imagination and thinking of something that is not immediately present, children with SLD may need prompts to recall an experience;
includes activities that move beyond memory building activities to take part in supported thinking and problem-solving activities;
provides opportunities for generalising and applying skills and knowledge across curriculum areas;
acknowledges that the physical well-being and development of our SLD learners is important;
recognises that some of our learners may not be physically able to complete practical processes without full support, but that they should be involved in choice and decision making about the process;

Impact – What difference is our curriculum making?

Progress for learners following the Semi-Formal curriculum pathway from Middle School onwards is currently assessed using descriptors from our school’s Stepping Stone and Bridging Levels and through formative assessment of progress towards individual EHCP outcomes. This progress is recorded on learner’s timelines.

In the Upper School, pupils following the semi-formal pathway have their achievements rewarded and recognised with accredited awards usually at pre-entry Level. These include Arts Awards, AQA Unit and ASDAN Awards.

The Engagement Model is being introduced into St Giles during 2020-21. It may be used to assess some Semi-Formal learners alongside the existing planning, assessment and recording system.

Curriculum Area Creative Semi- Formal (1)

Curriculum-Areas-at-St-Giles.Communication-Interaction-Semi-Formal

Cognition-and-Challenge-Maths-Semi-Formal-Curriculum

Humanities – Semi Formal Curriculum

Literacy Semi-Formal Curriculum

Physical and Sensory Semi Formal curriculum

Cognition and Challenge Science semi-formal

Draft Personal and Emotional Well-being Semi-formal Curriculum

Vocabulary used at Semi-formal maths