Department Lead: Sarai Luque-Talavera

The Coppice department consists of three Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 classes with a range of additional needs including Autism, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Social, emotional, Physical and Sensory related difficulties.

In Coppice, we follow the EQUALS Moving On esSENtials for life14+ Curriculum, a flexible 14-25 PMLD/SLD/MLD learning programme with optional accreditation which includes links to Personal Progress Units for the following areas of learning: Literacy, Numeracy, ICT, Relationships and Sex Education, World Studies, Independent Living and Vocational Studies. This Curriculum allows our students to learn and consolidate a range of valuable and functional skills with the aim of helping them prepare for their adult life.

Positive relationships are of paramount importance, and we work with determination and commitment to build, maintain and develop a relationship with all our students at the same time that we support them with their peer to peer interactions and the consolidation of meaningful and healthy friendships. It is through these strong relationships and shared understanding that we are able to identify what motivates each young adult that we work with.

Routine brings familiarity, and with it a sense of security that allow our pupils to explore independently with confidence. In addition, this consistency enables our learners to understand their school day and what is expected from them. In the Coppice department, we also make a heavy emphasis on emotional understanding and regulation in order to provide our students with the strategies which will support them not only during their learning, but also through their community involvement as young members of the society.

Independence and life skills are a key focus within our department, and we work closely with families and outside professionals to create individual learning programmes incorporating therapy, educational and life skills targets. Taking part in work related experiences and post-school planning is essential our Sixth Form students and we always make sure that they have plenty of opportunities to develop their work and safety skills in a range of settings.

Speech & Language, Physio and Occupational Therapy activities are integrated in our daily routine.  Depending on their age and individual needs, our students also access a range of nurturing programmes and experiences including:

• Forest School
• Music Therapy
• Swimming
• Cooking with Chef Michael
• Travel Training
• Community Café
• Mini – Enterprise
• Sailing
• Adapted Karting, Bowling and Laser Tag
• Access to theatre performances
• Work Experience
• Career advise sessions
• Visits to post-school settings
• Residential activities