Welcome to Towards Independence
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We are extremely proud of the specialised curriculum that we offer. The Towards Independence programs offer an opportunity to develop skills for life and complete accredited courses at a pace that suits the needs of the individual students. Our classrooms are exciting and interactive. We use multi-sensory learning and make regular trips out into the community to practice life and communication skills. We also have a high teacher to student ratio, to ensure individual attention can be given whenever it is necessary. We believe there is no limit to any child's potential, and we always strive to exceed expectations.
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Students accessing the Towards Independence Program all receive an Individual Education Plan (IEP). This is a document stating the student’s individual targets. The targets include academic, social, functional and specialist goals. The IEP is set at the start of the school year, then it is reviewed and updated on a termly basis. The IEP helps to structure your child's success, and targets can be worked on throughout the school day. This ensures their education is individualised to meet their specific needs, which helps them to progress towards those important next steps and, ultimately, independence.
Support Services
We provide Towards Independence students with Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Counselling throughout the school day, both in the classroom and in one-on-one settings as needed.
The Curriculum
The Towards Independence program encourages learners to reach their full potential through one-on-one support undertake the contemporary ASDAN academic subjects as well as ASDAN life skills programs. In Primary, the students follow the academic and social curriculum in the New Horizons program and the Towards Independence Starting Out program. In High School, the students continue with Towards Independence modules, and are able to choose short courses to complete. These are often complemented with practical activities, practicing their skills out in the community with teacher support.
We provide Towards Independence students with Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Counselling throughout the school day, both in the classroom and in one-on-one settings as needed.
The Curriculum
The Towards Independence program encourages learners to reach their full potential through one-on-one support undertake the contemporary ASDAN academic subjects as well as ASDAN life skills programs. In Primary, the students follow the academic and social curriculum in the New Horizons program and the Towards Independence Starting Out program. In High School, the students continue with Towards Independence modules, and are able to choose short courses to complete. These are often complemented with practical activities, practicing their skills out in the community with teacher support.
TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE: T1 AND T2 (PRIMARY)
Our Towards Independence 1 and 1 classes are for our primary students, aged four to twelve. We provide a highly targeted educational framework for those primary students with special needs and/or profound multiple learning differences to acquire essential social and life skills. Towards Independence provides an alternative study pathway following both the British Curriculum and the ASDAN curriculum that allows students to develop essential educational and life skills in a safe and supportive environment.
Teachers & Classrooms
We boast small class sizes (maximum 6 students per class) and multiple teachers (from 2 to 4 at any one time) ensuring a high teacher to student ratio so that each child’s individual learning needs are addressed. This also means students can be given additional work when they are achieving in class, and work can also be made easier when a student is struggling. This is vital, as it means our students can always achieve to the best of their ability.
Integration
Students in the Toward Independence program also work together in a larger group setting with mainstream ProEducation School primary school students for Sport and Fitness subjects. The larger group activities and peer learning promotes whole-child development and ensures all students feel equally valued. The students also share some time in the playground at break and lunchtimes, attend assembly and school events to ensure they can build those important peer relationships and develop communication skills with their same-age peers.
Our Towards Independence 1 and 1 classes are for our primary students, aged four to twelve. We provide a highly targeted educational framework for those primary students with special needs and/or profound multiple learning differences to acquire essential social and life skills. Towards Independence provides an alternative study pathway following both the British Curriculum and the ASDAN curriculum that allows students to develop essential educational and life skills in a safe and supportive environment.
Teachers & Classrooms
We boast small class sizes (maximum 6 students per class) and multiple teachers (from 2 to 4 at any one time) ensuring a high teacher to student ratio so that each child’s individual learning needs are addressed. This also means students can be given additional work when they are achieving in class, and work can also be made easier when a student is struggling. This is vital, as it means our students can always achieve to the best of their ability.
Integration
Students in the Toward Independence program also work together in a larger group setting with mainstream ProEducation School primary school students for Sport and Fitness subjects. The larger group activities and peer learning promotes whole-child development and ensures all students feel equally valued. The students also share some time in the playground at break and lunchtimes, attend assembly and school events to ensure they can build those important peer relationships and develop communication skills with their same-age peers.
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TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE: TI3 AND TI4 (SECONDARY SCHOOL)
We have a key focus on learning functional skills for independence. The students attending these programs have specialist targets, which are focused on throughout the school day. Towards Independence 3 and 4 is for students aged between 12 and 19. |
Teaching & Classrooms
Our students will receive individual attention and support in small classes with a teacher to student ratio of 2:5 for their Literacy, Communication and Numeracy needs. The classrooms are set up with flexible seating, so that the students do not sit at a desk all day, and can move around their learning environment. They attend age appropriate mainstream classes for Sport & Fitness and Art classes. Within this program, some of the classes are co-taught with the Speech and Language Therapist, this allows for implementation of strategies to help with communication as well as targeting language targets in the classroom setting.
Our students will receive individual attention and support in small classes with a teacher to student ratio of 2:5 for their Literacy, Communication and Numeracy needs. The classrooms are set up with flexible seating, so that the students do not sit at a desk all day, and can move around their learning environment. They attend age appropriate mainstream classes for Sport & Fitness and Art classes. Within this program, some of the classes are co-taught with the Speech and Language Therapist, this allows for implementation of strategies to help with communication as well as targeting language targets in the classroom setting.
Integration
Students in the Toward Independence program also work together in a larger group setting with mainstream Pro Education School high school students for Sport and Fitness and Art classes. However, Towards Independence students will continue to receive one-on-one specialist support and more individualised teaching support in these subjects, where deemed necessary. The larger group activities and peer learning promotes whole-child development and ensures all students feel equally valued. The students also share time in the playground at break and lunchtimes, as well as assembly and whole school events and activities to ensure they can build those important peer relationships and develop communication skills with their same-age peers.
Individual Learning Journeys
Our goal is to individualise each student’s program and incorporate key skill-building courses for those areas in which students require further support. Toward Independence offers formal recognition for small steps of achievement towards larger goals. Modules can be used separately and accumulated to build a record of personal achievement.
Skills for Life
Our older students also attend vocational training to build skills and expose them to a working environment. The have work experience roles twice a week at Finn’s Recreation Club, including barista training, kitchen training and child care. These roles are supported by our SENCO and speech therapist to ensure successful workplace communication and knowledge. In addition, students have the opportunity to study a range of electives from ASDAN.
Students who study Toward Independence work on key life skills and communication skills necessary for day to day living.
These skills include:
Students in the Toward Independence program also work together in a larger group setting with mainstream Pro Education School high school students for Sport and Fitness and Art classes. However, Towards Independence students will continue to receive one-on-one specialist support and more individualised teaching support in these subjects, where deemed necessary. The larger group activities and peer learning promotes whole-child development and ensures all students feel equally valued. The students also share time in the playground at break and lunchtimes, as well as assembly and whole school events and activities to ensure they can build those important peer relationships and develop communication skills with their same-age peers.
Individual Learning Journeys
Our goal is to individualise each student’s program and incorporate key skill-building courses for those areas in which students require further support. Toward Independence offers formal recognition for small steps of achievement towards larger goals. Modules can be used separately and accumulated to build a record of personal achievement.
Skills for Life
Our older students also attend vocational training to build skills and expose them to a working environment. The have work experience roles twice a week at Finn’s Recreation Club, including barista training, kitchen training and child care. These roles are supported by our SENCO and speech therapist to ensure successful workplace communication and knowledge. In addition, students have the opportunity to study a range of electives from ASDAN.
Students who study Toward Independence work on key life skills and communication skills necessary for day to day living.
These skills include:
- Money skills
- Time skills
- Self management
- Communication skills in class and in the community
- Independence skills in the community
- Catering assistant
- Sports and fitness
- Me, myself and I
- Sport and Fitness plays a key role in developing the agility, coordination and gross motor skills of our students. Sporting activities are performed at the Finns Recreation Club and include soccer, trampoline, gym training, and survival swimming.
