_____________________ Semi-Formal Curriculum

Whilst still focusing on ensuring order, structure, routine and certainty in their learning, in this semi-formal curriculum (Branch Pathway), we try to give our pupils opportunities to become literate communicators, early readers and start problem-solving. Our pupils are similar to all learners in that they take information through their senses.; however they may have difficulties in processing that information hence the need to design activities which enable them to increase their memory capacity, by breaking tasks and instructions down into smaller steps, frequently repeating important information, re-presenting information and teaching the same skill or fact in many different contexts to develop their ability to make connections and generalise a skill whilst understanding of when to use that skill in new and novel situations and combine it with other skills to solve a problem.

Activities are designed to increase memory capacity:

• by breaking tasks and instructions down into smaller steps;

• by frequently repeating important information;

• by teaching the same skill or fact in different contexts to develop the pupils’ ability to make connections and generalise a skill.