At Kestrel House School, Children access the Nest to Flight curriculum through a therapeutic approach, with Clinical and Education teams working collaboratively to promote regulation, self-awareness, independence, and functional skills.
Our learners shape the curriculum, which is continually reshaped, redefined, and refined to meet their evolving needs. As such, we feel this is the right time to introduce something new to Kestrel House — Something we believe will offer rich learning opportunities and meaningful new experiences for every learner.
At the heart of our curriculum is preparation for adulthood through Thinking and Learning Differently. This is achieved by embedding individual EHCP outcomes and by close collaboration between education staff, the clinical team, and Families/Carers to support the development of functional skills.
Our model is fully flexible. As learners’ needs change, the curriculum adapts alongside them, enabling them to take flight when they leave Kestrel House School. The Nest to Flight curriculum is centres on each learner’s EHCP outcomes while developing functional skills linked to Preparation for Adulthood.
Our teaching philosophy is grounded in Autism Best Practice and High-Quality Teaching. Learners are carefully grouped using the SCERTS approach to support the development of social communication and emotional regulation, while promoting learner voice and equipping them with effective strategies for learning and independence.
We want our learners to be curious, adventurous, and confident, using their communication skills to build independence through our school values:
- Pride – Celebrating individuality, building confidence, and developing a positive sense of self and achievement.
- Play – Using purposeful, engaging play to support communication, curiosity, emotional regulation, and a love of learning.
- Preparation for Adulthood – Developing independence, life skills, and communication so pupils can face the future with confidence and have the wings to take flight.
The AQA Unit Award Scheme supports the school ethos of ‘thinking and learning differently’. We introduced the AQA Unit Award Scheme in January 2020. Our school completed 53 AQA Unit Awards and submitted the paperwork. After being assessed externally all the learners were awarded their AQA Unit Award certificates, which they will receive when they leave Kestrel House School.
AQA Awards 24-25