Exploring, developing and applying skills for greater independence
The Bespoke Explorers Curriculum is designed for students who are ready to build on their foundational skills and develop greater independence, communication and participation. It provides a highly personalised curriculum that recognises each student’s individual developmental profile, strengths, interests and support needs.
Learning within Bespoke Explorers is meaningful, practical and connected to real-life experiences. Students are supported to develop their skills through structured teaching, play, sensory exploration, communication opportunities, practical activities and experiences within their school and wider community.
As students progress through Explorers, the focus increasingly moves towards using and applying skills. Students may be developing their ability to sustain attention, communicate more intentionally, make choices, participate in routines, interact with others, solve problems, become more independent or use a skill across different environments.
Progress is not simply about completing a task independently. It may be seen when a student initiates an interaction, communicates a preference, anticipates what will happen next, engages for longer, needs fewer prompts, participates in a familiar routine or successfully uses a skill in a new context.
Across all five strands, communication, emotional regulation and independence remain interconnected. Learning is carefully adapted to each student’s developmental stage, communication system, sensory profile, interests and level of engagement.
Our Five Curriculum Strands
🧠 Cognition and Learning
Students develop their ability to think, explore, problem-solve, attend and apply what they have learned. Learning includes Maths, Phonics and Reading, Literacy and practical and play-based experiences, with opportunities to develop skills in meaningful contexts.
💬 Communication and Interaction
Students are supported to communicate their wants, needs, choices, ideas and feelings using the communication methods that work best for them. This may include AAC, core words, visuals, signing, gesture, objects of reference, spoken language and shared attention. Programmes such as Core Words, Bucket Therapy, Sensology and What’s in the Box? provide purposeful opportunities to communicate and interact.
🏃 Physical and Sensory Development
Students develop physical confidence, coordination, motor skills and awareness of their sensory needs. Opportunities include PE, Sensory Circuits, Fine Motor Skills, Bikes and Trikes, Play Park, trampolines and Sensory Cooking. Students are supported to increasingly understand and manage their bodies and access physical experiences with greater confidence.
❤️ Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Students develop relationships, emotional understanding, confidence, self-awareness and regulation skills. Through Forest School, PSHE, creative experiences and shared activities, students are given opportunities to explore emotions, develop positive relationships, experience success and build confidence in themselves and others.
🌱 Preparing for Adulthood
Preparing for adulthood is woven throughout the curriculum, with a focus on communication, functional independence, self-care, choice-making and participation in the wider community. Students develop practical skills through Functional Independence, Brush Bus, Travel Training, Community Awareness and Careers at Every Level.
Learning across the five strands
Although the curriculum is organised into five strands, learning is never taught in isolation. A single experience might develop communication, physical skills, emotional regulation, cognition, social interaction and independence at the same time.
Our aim is for every student to become an increasingly confident, engaged and active participant in their learning and their world, building on what they can already do and developing the skills they need for greater independence, meaningful participation and life beyond school.
