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Thomasson Memorial School is a day school for deaf children, providing a nurturing and inclusive environment for students aged 2 to 16. Communicate, Learn and Achieve is our vision and our values are communication, adaptability, resilience, enquiry, respect and co-operation all of which link well to the essential skills. We believe that we need to prepare our pupils for the next stage of education and transition into adulthood.
Over the years the programme has gone from strength to strength, staff really see the value of the programme, and learners are able to use the language to express and recognise their skills.
Overall impact
By embedding essential skills into the curriculum, extracurricular activities and work experience, we have been able to demonstrate that these skills are not a 'bolt-on' but something we use all the time. We have also been able to develop a shared language for students and staff to articulate their skill strengths and areas for development. A particular highlight this year has been seeing pupils developing their skills during our first whole school Skills Builder Challenge Day.
Keep it simple
We have a common language for essential skills across the school and school community; we regularly share home skill challenges in our newsletter and on our social media. We celebrate skill successes in our skill celebrations, where learners receive skill certificates to recognise their achievements. Essential skills are also referenced in teaching and learning policy, our display policy and our careers policy to ensure long-term impact. We have also developed a standalone Skills Builder policy demonstrating our commitment to the programme. This year, we also updated all our skill posters to provide clear visual cues for learners. In primary, we have linked the skill posters to the school values.
Start early, keep going
Over time on Skills Builder programmes, we have been able to roll out essential skills teaching to all learners, from primary to secondary. Information for parents is provided through school newsletters and our social media pages. Skills development and preparation for adulthood are discussed at our annual parental review meetings.
Measure it
We use a bespoke assessment spreadsheet made for us by our Education Associate to monitor pupil progress. The spreadsheet is saved centrally, and allows us to identify student strengths and areas for development within the essential skills. Staff are given time to update their assessments during staff meetings.
Focus tightly
Learners in secondary are taught during form time, using short lessons and other resources from the Hub. In primary, learners are taught using challenge days like the Greetings Card Challenge.
Teachers use the Hub resources and adapt them to ensure they are accessible to our pupils e.g. by adding BSL signs.
Keep practising
We have provided pupils with additional opportunities to practise the essential skills by embedding them into the curriculum and extracurricular activities. For example, in secondary lessons teachers refer to the skills posters and incorporate the skills icons into their PowerPoints. We have mapped the skills to some schemes of work, and onto the list of extracurricular activities that are shared with staff.
Bring it to life
This year we have brought the skills to life for students by participating in Careers Insights Sessions, where pupils learnt why the essential skills are important in different job roles. Our support staff have also been using the Projects on Skills Builder Hub with our KS3 pupils, and KS4 pupils have been reflecting on the skills they used during their work experience placements. Pupils throughout the school have also been reflecting on how the essential skills helped them in the Greetings Card challenge day.
What's next
Next year we will incorporate more challenge days into our curriculum.
