Children with high level complex needs, including ASD, physical needs, social, emotional and mental health needs and cognition and learning needs access the Den for part or all of their timetable. Children and young people from Keys Stage 1 through to Key Stage 4 may be taught in The Den.
Lessons are primarily taught by Joanne Allison (Complex Needs Teacher), Kim Smith (SENCo) and Rachael Gentle (LSA) and Caitlin Cotton (LSA). However, other teachers and LSAs support as appropriate and depending on need.
Subjects taught in The Den include, but are not limited to:
- English
- Maths
- Science
- PSHE
- Geography/History
- ICT
- DT/Art
- John Muir Award
- Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Life Skills
Where possible, subject content follows schemes of work for the age groups taught, but delivery may be highly differentiated. However, the main focus for most pupils is on developing independent living skills with functional literacy and numeracy.
For the majority of pupils who access The Den, the intention is that they re-integrate with their peers in mainstream lessons when they are able.
We have excellent links with Le Murier Special School in Guernsey. For some pupils, we arrange for them to visit Le Murier once or twice a month to access lessons there. This learning is then supported back in The Den.