Our Curriculum at Esteem South
Our Curriculum Intent – Our ‘Why?’
At Esteem South Alternative Academy, we recognise that pupils arrive with different experiences of school, different strengths and different starting points. Our curriculum helps them reconnect with learning, build trusting relationships and see what they can achieve.
Our intent is simple. We aim to provide a safe a nurturing learning environment that promotes the holistic development of each pupil. Through tailored experiences and support, we aim to build essential knowledge and skills while fostering positive social, emotional, and mental well-being.
Curriculum Implementation – Our ‘How’
Our curriculum is developmental not chronological: it is based on where a young person is in their development, not which year group they are in. Pupils will be assessed on entry in a range of ways, and their work will be tailored to their current stage of academic learning and
SEMH development. For many of our pupils, their personal development and SEMH needs mean that work in this area has to be prioritised, as a vital first pillar in their learning journey. Therefore, we have ‘Nurture’ at the heart of everything we do. No learner is ready to develop academically if they do not have their basic needs met.
Our curriculum model will also recognise the importance of having a strong academic core: for us, this means focussing on literacy, including spoken language, reading and writing, as one of the primary tools through which all other learning is accessed. Our curriculum provides opportunities for pupils to experience a range of vocational subjects. This is offered through our personalised curriculum model and aims to provide pupils with a range of practical subjects and possible pathways to post-16 progression.
Our curriculum is designed to empower pupils to overcome challenges, build resilience and reach their full potential, equipping them with the tools needed to thrive academically and emotionally in both school and beyond.
Our curriculum is designed to:
- Re-engage pupils in learning and help them experience success from their individual starting points.
- Build trusting relationships and support pupils’ social, emotional and mental health.
- Strengthen essential knowledge and skills in English and maths within a broad curriculum.
- Adapt learning and timetables to pupils’ needs, helping them develop confidence and independence.
- Help pupils build positive relationships and make healthy, safe choices.
- Give pupils opportunities to explore their interests and make informed decisions about their next steps.
- Support secondary pupils to work towards meaningful qualifications, including in English and maths, where appropriate.
Our Learning Pathways
On entry each pupil’s context will be diagnostically tested to assess their priorities for progress and identify individual needs. At Esteem South, we have three Pathways that challenge our pupils at an appropriate level, allow assessments to take place and progress to be made. There is no limit to the level of progress that each pupil can achieve, however expectations and targets are set in context to individual priorities.
Our pathways provide a graduated response when a pupil’s SEMH needs affect their engagement: we identify what is getting in the way, tailor the support they receive, and review and adapt their provision as their needs change.
