1. Purpose and Aims:

To support our pupils to:

• Participate in educational learning activities which will support  a wider understanding of the opportunities and challenges adulthood brings
• Develop increased independence through decision making which will lead to informed choices as well as  practical life skills
• Achieve autonomy, resilience and wellbeing which can be applied to a range of contexts
• Develop interpersonal skills which can, in the first instance, be applied to the friendship and relationship opportunities they will experience within school and later in the wider world
• Access a range of activities and opportunities that promote and support individual interests, creative abilities and thinking
• Gain an insight into the world of work through exposure to a wide range of experiences with employers and opportunities to visit different workplaces  
• Obtain employability skills by engaging in a wide range of work-related learning opportunities
• Prepare for their place in society through a rich, broad and balanced educational programme which supports all pupils to work towards the Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) outcomes

2. Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) Curriculum Intent

We believe that our young people with SEND should have equal life chances as they move into adulthood. Disabilities and additional needs should not be barriers to accessing paid employment and higher education, if this is the appropriate pathway for an individual. Furthermore, housing options (including independent living where appropriate), good health and mental wellbeing, friends, relationships, community inclusion and choice and control over their lives and support are fundamental rights we believe all of our young people deserve as they progress into adulthood.

Lonsdale’s PfA Curriculum is designed to support our learners to develop the skills and knowledge they need to access services that will improve their quality of life and to begin to understand the options and choices available to them when they leave school. There is a strong focus on preparing learners for their next phase and adulthood. Learners develop skills which will support their  independence, social skills, as well as functional numeracy and literacy.  They are supported to understand how to be safe, healthy and fulfilled in the wider world. A key aspect in achieving this is the emphasis we place on communication. Whether verbally or through the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), we want our young people to use their voice, form opinions, challenge and question, and object when they are unhappy about something. We want our Lonsdale pupils to have the confidence to speak up in all contexts and wherever possible advocate for what they want in life. 

The four strands of Lonsdale’s PfA Curriculum are based on the four Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) outcomes, the consideration of which is promoted by the Department for Education (DfE) as part of EHC planning:

                                 Employability - Independent Living - Community Inclusion - Health

The weighting given to each of these strands depends on the needs of the individual pupils. There are strong links to long-term outcomes in pupils’ EHCPs through individual learning goals, which will determine how to differentiate and personalise the curriculum to meet individual needs. The application and generalisation of learnt skills is crucial so that learners can transfer these skills to future settings.