June 2021
Chances - The Alternative Provision That Works!
The Chances Curriculum
At Chances the main aim is to work with students and return them back into mainstream education as quickly as possible. It's why we focus purely on early intervention and supporting your students at an early stage as possible.
It's also why our curriculum comprises all learning and other experiences that their mainstream school plans for its students. We want their experience to be as close to that of a mainstream school as possible so that when they return to school there isn't a huge period of readjustment.
We work with our partner schools to share the learning that they want the students to undertake and create individual learning plans. There remains a full timetable of lessons with high expectations of what your students can achieve! The curriculum that we provide aims to be broad, balanced and relevant to all students as individuals and differentiated to meet their individual needs. It allows students to develop a wide range of knowledge, concepts and skills and equip them for the next stages of their development whether academic or to enter employment.
The aims of the Chances curriculum are derived from the overall school aims. They are for all students to:
Achieve their potential in as many ways as possible
Develop spiritual and moral values
Obtain a variety of skills and qualifications which will prepare them for the next stage of their lives
Be part of a happy community within which all will feel secure and valued
Development in all these areas is essential to establishing high standards of attainment for all students.
Within Lessons
Lesson time remains very important at Chances. Constant reminders of high expectations stay in place as we believe this has a positive knock on effect on behaviour overall. Students have 5 lessons a day, all provided by qualified teachers. Students will receive English, Maths and Science lessons each day, alongside a number of vocational courses and any additional work you as a school would want completed. Additional numeracy and literacy interventions are implemented in the timetable where needed to support learning or catch up any education missed. The Consistency across all lessons is paramount and communication between staff between lessons key.
Outside Of Lessons
At Chances we believe that students settle best when they have a familiar person that they can relate to, who knows them and is trusted to meet their individual needs.
Our Key Workers support your students, their parents/carers and your school through the development of meaningful relationships in which students thrive. This gives parents confidence and schools have a consistent point of contact.
Key Workers meet your students each week (or as often as needed) to discuss any issues around education and their emotional and social well being. Having formed a strong relationship with a student, Key Workers are critical to support a young person throughout their package, act as a link person for any outside agencies, give the student a voice at meetings and provide support during any reintegration stage.
Vocational Subjects and Working With External Agencies
At Chances, to ensure we can provide your students with a well rounded educational experience, we work with a number of different outside agencies who provide in depth learning in subject areas where we may not have specialists who can teach the lesson. We provide a number of vocational subjects where students can gain certificates even in their short stay at the provision - giving them a sense of reward and achievement when they leave us.
Forest School - Our in house instructor provides students with a Forest School experience - a child-centred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions.
Art - Local artist, Peter Margerum, supports students in their art lessons with projects such as creating garden features for our outdoor space.
Cooking - As a trained Chef, our Deputy Head Steve Evans is able to deliver a cooking syllabus that incorporates valuable life skills and helps our students understand healthy eating.First Aid - Trained first aiders deliver a beginners course which provides a comprehensive set of practical skills needed by first aiders in real life situations, giving our students both the ability and knowledge to deal with first aid emergencies.
Hair and Beauty - Chances have a specialist room where with the support of a specialist we could deliver courses to help our students to start working and gaining additional skills in the industry.
Personal Development - Bespoke packages aimed at the students in our care support their well being. This involves knowledge, attitudes, skills, relationships and behaviour that can be utilised in and outside the classroom.
Music - Workers from Daisi Arts Education Organisation come into Chances, supporting 1-1 music sessions and creating opportunities that improve the outcomes for our students across their creative learning and social needs.
Please contact a member of the team if you have any questions about ways in which you feel we could potentially support any of your students.
