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School overview
Bennerley Fields School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 16 with a range of complex learning needs. Our ethos centres on developing the whole child, ensuring that pupils are equipped not only with academic knowledge but also with the skills needed to thrive in adult life. We are committed to offering a broad and balanced curriculum that prepares learners for their futures.
Why Skills Builder?
We joined the Skills Builder Accelerator programme as part of our wider Personal Development and Careers strategy. We recognised that our pupils needed a clear, structured approach to building essential skills such as teamwork, listening and problem solving. These skills are critical to helping our pupils access the world of work and feel confident in their personal development. Skills Builder’s framework offered a consistent, accessible, and scaffolded approach that we could embed across our curriculum and wider school life.
Overall impact
The impact of the Accelerator programme has been significant. Staff confidence in using the framework has grown, pupils are more able to talk about their skills, and parents are more aware of how these link to future independence and employment. A particular highlight was seeing pupils independently articulate how they used their essential skills during our recent business enterprise event; a moment that truly reflected their personal growth.
Keep it simple
At Bennerley Fields School, we have embedded the language of the Skills Builder Universal Framework into our whole-school culture. Each classroom displays the eight essential skills visually, and we refer to them consistently in daily routines, Thrive sessions, PSHE, and curriculum learning. Staff have received training to ensure shared understanding and consistent use of the terminology. Skills Builder icons are used in planning documents and are referenced when giving feedback to pupils, supporting their ability to reflect on which skill they are developing.
We’ve also built awareness through parent communications; highlighting essential skills in our newsletters, home learning, and during review meetings, so families are aware of how these skills link to long-term outcomes for their child. Our school values align strongly with Skills Builder principles, and by integrating essential skills into EHCP targets and our accreditation routes, we show clearly that we value them as much as academic progress.
Start early, keep going
Essential skills are introduced early and developed throughout a pupil’s journey at Bennerley Fields, from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 4. The framework is used flexibly to suit the learning needs of our diverse pupil population, with appropriate scaffolding. For example, in primary classes, we focus on building speaking and listening through play, circle time, and visual supports. As pupils move through the school, we layer in more complex skill use through project work, enterprise, and preparation for adulthood sessions.
Families are involved through structured conversations and annual reviews, where we highlight progress in essential skills and discuss how these can be supported at home. We have also used Skills Builder Homezone and family activities to extend learning beyond the classroom, encouraging consistency across environments.
Measure it
We use the Skills Builder Hub and our own assessment tools to track pupil progress across the eight essential skills. Staff assess class starting points and update these termly, allowing the monitoring of development across the year. This insight helps us target specific skills in need of development, particularly those that are barriers to learning or independence.
Analysis of this data has allowed us to tailor our interventions more effectively, for example focusing on Listening and Problem Solving where gaps have been identified. This data is also valuable for contributing to EHCP evidence and curriculum planning.
Focus tightly
We deliver direct instruction of the essential skills using the Skills Builder short lessons and activities, which are adapted to suit the needs of our pupils. This is timetabled as part of our Beyond Bennerley and Careers curriculum, where the focus is explicitly on developing personal growth, communication, and independence.
Each half-term we focus on a core skill across the school, which ensures consistency and shared language. Staff use the resources flexibly, incorporating Makaton, visual supports, and sensory adaptations to ensure accessibility. Leaders support this by modelling best practice and sharing successful strategies. We have a school Shout Out board, where great skill development is praised and shared with the whole school community. The skills icons are placed next to the written statements to further highlight how pupils are developing their essential skills.
Keep practising
Pupils are given regular opportunities to practise their essential skills across the wider curriculum and through special projects. We’ve embedded skill development into enterprise events, off-site visits, and lunch club activities. For example, during our recent Enterprise Marketplace, pupils used their Teamwork, Creativity, and Problem Solving skills to plan, create, and sell products, building real-life experience.
Skills are also developed through practical subjects like Food Technology and Gardening, where Turn-taking, Leadership, and Staying Positive are key to success. We also promote essential skills in enrichment clubs and student roles such as career ambassadors or class monitors, which provide further chances to practise in authentic settings.
Bring it to life
We connect essential skills to real-life applications through career-based learning, employer engagement, and community projects. Older pupils take part in work-related learning, work experience, and visits to local businesses, many of which are supported by Skills Builder resources. For example, we now use work experience passports linked to the eight essential skills which our main local work experience provider has fully embraced, and our recent project with the EDT has been underscored by the universal framework outcomes.
What's next
Looking ahead, we plan to deepen staff CPD, develop more employer links with our skills passport, and continue refining our use of Skills Builder tools to support class target setting. We aim to expand opportunities for families to engage with essential skills at home.
