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Redwood is a pioneering secondary special school situated on a co-located site with Oulder Hill Community School in Rochdale. Redwood School opened in 2007. Redwood School was built alongside mainstream schools in a pioneering change to the way children with special education needs are taught. The newly created Redwood School replace High Birch, Innes, and Rydings that were previously in Rochdale, Our vision is to become a centre of inclusive excellence that fosters relationships and builds partnerships in order to meet the diverse needs of the whole school community. Our mission statement is to create a safe, caring and happy environment where everyone is treated with respect & dignity. We will value each other & learn together in order to make a unique, positive contribution to the world around us. Our values and ethos is to become a centre of inclusive excellence that fosters relationships and builds partnerships in order to meet the diverse needs of the whole school community. Above all Be the Best. Be Happy. Work Hard.
Overall impact
The Skills Builder programme has been invaluable. We were attracted to the programme as it gave us a framework to evidence progress and resources to support the students. A particular highlight for us this year has been the use of the workbooks which the students have loved. Students have worked through the workbooks independently and have been taking them home at weekends and during the school holidays as they want to continue working and evidencing progress. One student has picked the Skills Builder programme as part of his Duke of Edinburgh focus and has found the ability to see progress as he transitions between steps particularly fulfilling.
Keep it simple
All teachers and classrooms have the posters. House points are also rewarded based on the essential skills. Virtual assemblies have taken place on a Tuesday and Friday. On Tuesday students were given a Skills Builder project and on Friday students were awarded for this. An example of this was a Come Dine with Me project - where students met daily and took part in a presentation at the end here they reflected on their skill usage.
Start early, keep going
All young people take part in a weekly work placements and have the opportunity to develop their skills. All students have a dedicated Skills Builder session, in additio to English and Maths planning referencing the essential skills. Specific projects also support students to develop their skills. All students have interviews throughout the year with employers where they practise talking about their essential skills - this is consistent in the Preparation for Adulthood workstream.
Measure it
Some staff use the Skills Builder Hub. Other staff use the skill workbooks and assess through these. Earwig tracks the Skills Builder progress and Education Health Care Plans, which have specific skill step outcomes. One target will focus on communication (Speaking/Listening) and another target will focus on Teamwork and Leadership in preparation for moving towards a working life.
Focus tightly
Workbooks have been used since January. These have been very well utilised in the school. Workbooks are used independently and students can be guided through the workbooks at their own pace. The workbooks are used through the One Drive. Students have been using these in the weekend and at holidays. Every morning the focus of tutor is on Skills Builder. Staff pick a skill and step to teach in these sessions. Students have skills and qualities lessons in preparation for their one day of work experience. This is a weekly session.
Keep practising
Princes Trust activities are mapped against the Skills Builder framework, focusing on the skills of Teamwork and Leadership. English and Maths sessions reference the essential skills and in English these are referenced in the planning documents, linking to specific skill steps. On Tuesday students were given a Skills Builder Project and on Friday students were awarded for this.
Bring it to life
All students spend one day out a work. When staff visit students on placement they have a skills sheet which have the skills broken down which they complete fortnightly as they are observed on placement. Skills sheets are also used in vocational lessons and they are used as a baseline, half way through and at the end. All students go through an interview process for the work experience. This is a staged process but allows students to articulate their skills and how they have developed their essential skills. There are 'mass interview days' three times a year where employers come in and interview the students for 'mock jobs'. Students are questioned on their skills and how they demonstrate them. Students have to take their skills records of achievement which are their portfolios of all the things which they have done.
What's next
Next year we will focus on ensuring greater consistency with the essential skills for our Independent Living Programme and building the programme into all policies.
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