Needs-Led Curriculum
Making the impossible achievable.
At Dovecote School, we deliver an exciting and innovative needs-led curriculum, specifically developed to overcome barriers to learning and personal progress. Using robust holistic assessment, we individualise each child’s curriculum to ensure they receive the right combination of therapy and academic study to ensure they have the tools to succeed in the wider world.
The Dovecote School Therapeutic Curriculum
Our therapeutic curriculum will be delivered within a safe, nurturing environment. The school environment enables students to use the space in a way that supports their emotional regulation. This includes the use or access to indoor and outdoor areas that create interest for students, e.g. horticulture, farm, forest school and Thrive pods. The therapeutic curriculum is delivered through our Thrive approach which all staff are trained in. This supports the promotion of positive mental health, a sense of well-being, self-awareness and self–esteem.
Developing student's life and independent skills
The development of functional life skills for living is one of the foundation pilar stones Dovecote School promotes. Our aim is to enable each student to lead a fulfilling and substantially independent life. We recognise that for young people with autism and other SEN needs, every experience may provide a learning experience. Our approach to teaching functional and life skills is at the core of our curriculum. These opportunities are provided through access to a Therapeutic Curriculum which includes:
- Thrive practices
- Targeted interventions
- Wider school community opportunities
- Active and outdoor learning
- Our comprehensive and appropriate PHSE/ RSE program
- Tailored Life skills program that includes access to the wider community.
Positive Behavioural Support
Trauma-informed education purposefully links together educational opportunities with therapeutic interventions to create a healing environment.
At Dovecote School, this means teaching young people about mental wellbeing. Adverse Childhood Experiences alter a young person’s developing brain in ways that can result in enduring emotional, behavioural, cognitive, social and physical barriers.
All of our staff are trained in Thrive techniques that, together with guided therapeutic interventions, help students understand the context and meaning of behaviour, develop positive coping strategies and emotional regulation.
What is Thrive?
Thrive is a therapeutic approach to help support children and young people develop their social, emotional, mental health and wellbeing.
At Dovecote we recognise that every behaviour is communication of a need. Research has shown that the safety we feel in relationship is directly linked to how we behave and how ready we are to engage in learning. By teaching children and young people to attune to, notice and name feelings and emotions it can help with their development and learning.
The Thrive approach offers practical strategies and techniques via individual assessment, which identify children’s emotional skills and provides personalised action plans for their unique needs.
Children sometimes need some extra support with their emotional growth, where previous experiences have resulted in skills not being fine-tuned. This can be temporary or over a longer period of time.
Thrive promotes their emotional and social growth by building positive relationships between a child and their peers and helps them explore and understand their feelings through various activities. It allows us to meet a child in the here and now and to build on previous learning and experience.
The Thrive Approach draws on the latest research from current neuroscience, recent attachment research, current studies of effective learning and current models of child development.
Dovecote is a Thrive School of Excellence, with excellence in Environment, Relationship, Reparative, Right time and Leadership.
Testimonials from our team
Family, Inclusion and Wellbeing - a unique extended offer
Dovecote School works closely with families to support inclusion, engagement and attendance. Our dedicated Family, Inclusion and Wellbeing team enable smooth and effective communication between school and home. Many of our children experience additional barriers, challenging life experiences and difficulties away from school and the team will be able to support from the moment your child starts at Dovecote until the moment they move on. Every member of our Family, Inclusion and Wellbeing team are trained Thrive practitioners and can offer additional support to build the bridge between home and school to best support each child and young person to progress. The team offer additional Family Thrive courses to enrich the Dovecote experience.
The Needs-Led Curriculum
As educators at our school, we recognise the paramount importance of catering to the unique needs of each child, as outlined in their Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP). We acknowledge the strenuous efforts made by parents to ensure that the right provisions are duly secured in section F of their child’s EHCP. At the core of our mission is striking a delicate balance: safeguarding these provisions while equipping our students with academic opportunities and qualifications alongside opportunities to develop their independence skills in preparation for adulthood.
This is why we have developed our needs-led curriculum approach. This approach is designed to not only honour the provisions outlined in the EHCP but also to provide avenues for academic advancement, promote independence, and develop essential life skills in our students.
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Discuss a referral
For details of open mornings, to arrange a visit, or discuss our admission process, please contact:
Daisy John - Referral, Assessment and Transition Coordinator
djohn@dovecoteschool.co.uk