Riverside – Reintegration Base Curriculum

 English

What we do

 Over a period of time, the Curriculum is designed to offer a positive experience of:

• Reading a range of fiction

•  Writing in different ways for different audiences and purposes

•  Working in pairs, groups and independently in reading, writing and speaking and listening activities.

•  Using ICT and drama to engage students

Ways of working

• The subject is generally delivered in small groups, lessons being adapted to suit each student’s individual needs.

• The use of ICT is always encouraged in lessons to positively support and present work produced.

Food Technology

 What we do

•  We follow the Licence to Cook programme - a national programme encouraging children to develop good basic cooking skills and a healthy attitude to eating and enabling them to understand wise food shopping as well as food safety and hygiene.

 Ways of working

• Encourage students to make [follow] a recipe and then adapt it to suit themselves.  Demonstrate skills with an emphasis on food safety, hygiene and healthy eating.

 Extension studies

What we do

•  A wide variety of activities are arranged to develop an individuals skills as well as setting them personal challenges.  These include;

     Walking, orienteering, weazling, caving, climbing [both indoor

     and outdoor], abseiling, manhunt and hide and seek.

Ways of working

Students are well prepared before the activity and all fears discussed.  The Health and safety issues are addressed as well as travel arrangements.

Girl’s Group

 What we do

•  The girl’s Group is held off site, one full day per week at our base at the Crescent; at present on a Monday.  A range of health, wellbeing and social issues are covered in a group work setting.  These include; emotional health, sexual health, self-esteem, anger management, sexual exploitation work, looking after our bodies.  Visits, pamper sessions and outside agency staff are included.  This is held off site at our Allison Crescent site.

Ways of working

•  We work in a small group with a relaxed atmosphere.  We provide a nurturing place where the girls can ask any questions without feeling threatened.  We incorporate fun activities into our learning e.g. trampolining, cinema, bowling and artwork.

PSHE [Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education]

What we do

 Topics are chosen according to student need and run for ½ a term.  For example emotional health and wellbeing is explored in a variety of ways covering anger, everyday stresses and relaxation techniques.

Ways of working

•  We work in a very relaxed classroom environment.  There are guinea pigs for the students to hold and a Chill Room to help students cope with difficult situations as they arise.

Mentor Sessions [One2One]

 What we do

• Every student has a one to one mentor session timetabled each week. 
• This is usually run with a member of the group team or someone the student has a good working relationship with. 
• During these sessions students are encouraged to discuss issues that are personal to them.  Strategies for dealing with the issues are jointly as well as those identified and/or by their exit school.  
• This time is highly personalized and students may wish to spend different amounts of time on issues with the aim of achieving successful reintegration.  
• Students are also allocated a Key Worker in centre

Ways of working

•  We work on an individual programme to suit personal needs in an informal setting.  We offer Anger management, Re–Tracking, Cycle of Change, Conduct file [online course], Sensitive issues through pictures and Kartouche. Motivational interviewing techniques are used. 
• Support is given throughout the week by the mentor.

Enrichment – Whirlow Farm Base

 What we do

The visits can be full or ½ day sessions working with the Learning mentor based at the farm and staff from KS3 Centre.  We want to develop the students understanding of what a farm actually produces in terms of animal and crop products. 

Every opportunity is given to engage with animals in a very hands on and practical way.  We want to foster a greater awareness of nature and the environment in general.  A good practical introduction to gardening and vegetable growing is covered.

Ways of working

The sessions are delivered very practically with as many hands on opportunities with the minimum of writing.  Some report writing needs to be completed.

 ICT – [Information and Communication Technology]

 What we do

 We use Microsoft Office and develop skills in Powerpoint, Word, Excel and Publisher.  The use of the internet is developed and used for research skills.  Presentation skills are developed to help students in other curriculum areas.  Students are encouraged to transfer their skills into other curriculum areas.

Ways of working

Students produce individual projects, work is tailored towards students interests, Step by step lesson activities are developed to lead to an understanding of an area.

Art

 What we do

• We use a variety of materials and artistic styles e.g. Pop Art, graffiti, still life, surrealism, model making and masks.

 Ways of working

•  We adapt the theme of lessons to work with individual students interests for example when using Mod – roc to make masks, others adapted this and made chess sets or noughts and crosses.  Students are encouraged to use their own interests within the lessons so they can feel they can achieve in this area and not ‘fear’ art.

PE – Physical Education

What we do

• The opportunity to learn new sports and activities is provided with the chance to join in team games which occasionally include tournaments / competitions / festivals etc…
• The opportunity to use specialist and advanced facilities offsite.
• Staff have expertise coaching and delivering a wide range of sports from golf to persona programmes on Gym equipment to develop fitness.
• There is the chance to earn / obtain certificates / qualifications

Ways of working

• The subject is always delivered off-site and includes team games / competitions / tournaments / sports day
• Students are taught new sports and coached.

Joe Blagg

What we do

• Joe Blagg is a drama/activity based workshop for students to reflect on their behaviour and consequences of their actions.  It deals with and challenges offending and disruptive behaviours. It enables them to develop the necessary skills to support the progression back to mainstream school. 
• Joe Blagg takes the students on a journey of one of their peers, to investigate the consequences of this type of behaviour and for them to see the possibility of change.

 Ways of working

• The use of games and other activities are used tointroduce students into drama e.g. via role play in a relaxed atmosphere with no pressures.
• The sessions develop a video of the “Joe Blagg” scenarios which is scripted and produced by the students themselves.
• Students develop ‘The Path of Progress’ and make a personalised brick.
• It is a relaxed atmosphere with no pressures.

Readiness For Reintegration  - R4R

What we do

• These sessions are designed to prepare the student for a successful return to mainstream school.  Students build up  evidence of their work and positives achievements and rewards in an Achievement Folder [old Progress File].
•  Students follow a personalised route through this work according to their needs with the aim of re-engaging students in learning and raising self-esteem.

 Ways of working

• Activities include the use of ICT and include: Powerpoint - presenting my positives, understanding R4R Plan/discussion, reasons for exclusion and developing strategies to deal with the issues, producing positive postcards, how I like to learn, careers education Kudos and CV writing, personal statements, dealing with feelings, tracking progress data presenting results in a graph, discussing and setting targets, discussing own progress and RAP report, preparing interview questions and how to deal with the return interview.  Students work with the reintegration mentors to prepare for a smooth and worry free transition to their new school.

•  The Achievement Folder is presented at the interview with staff at their new school.  Students choose examples of their work from across the curriculum which they are proud of and could talk about in their reintegration interview. 

•  All student work is transferred to the receiving school by the KS3 Inclusion Service.

• Students who are not returning quickly to mainstream follow an Every Child [ECM] matters programme.

 Multi Media

What we do

The multi - media room has a suite of Applemacs for music production and creating games programmes.   There is a range of musical equipment, guitars [accoustic,electric and base, drums, drum machine, keyboards and decks.   Graphic design, music production, DJ work and mixing, recording, and Karrooche.

Ways of working

• Introduction to Apple Macs and programmes are explored.  Personalised projects according to individual needs are run. 

 Design

What we do

• The sessions take place in a fully equipped workshop.  We cover the safe use of workshop machinery, electronics, resistant materials [wood, metals and plastics] and mechanisms. 
• We encourage creativity, decision making and develop listening skills and following instructions.

Ways of working

• Our work is project based with each one planned to ensure success to a highly polished standard. 
• Students are encouraged to follow instructions yet are given opportunities for making creative choices and exploration.
• Work can lead to credits for an Asdan Award.

We are introducing the SEAL Programme after Easter 2009.