Ivel Valley School and College is an inclusive educational provider, with pupils taught alongside their peers following a curriculum designed to ensure that all learners are prepared for their future. We celebrate differences within our school community and therefore take a highly personalised approach to learning, recognising that each pupil is unique with differing strengths and needs.

At Ivel Valley, learning is delivered through a challenging, fun and dynamic curriculum with a strong emphasis on play enquiry and exploration. Our curriculum aims to develop the essential skills, knowledge and understanding for future life by extending beyond the requirements of the National Curriculum and exposing our pupils to rich and varied learning experiences both within and outside of the classroom. 

The Early Years to Key Stage 5 curriculum places an emphasis on developing skills and knowledge within four prime areas:

• Communication & Language
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Physical Development
• Life and Living skills

Moving forward into Key Stage 4 and 5, the emphasis becomes increasingly focussed on ‘Preparing for Adulthood’, in keeping with individual hopes and aspirations. In addition pupils may study four specific areas of learning; Literacy, Numeracy, Expressive Art & Design, and Understanding the World. Pupils are taught to link the knowledge they acquire.

At all stages, our curriculum relies on positive and trusting relationships between staff, pupils and families. Through these relationships we can effectively recognise pupils’ prior learning, provide rich learning experiences, allow pupils to develop interpersonal skills, build resilience and empower them to become creative, critical thinkers.

Our learners are amazing and unique. Whilst we celebrate this individuality it does mean that there is no-one else like them to compare their progress with. We overcome this by comparing them to themselves and what they have shown us previously. This is an approach called “Ipsative Assessment”. Evidence for Learning (EfL) allows us to capture examples of what learners are able to do and the range of circumstances they are able to do it in.

If you have any questions regarding our curriculum, please contact Helen Whybrow, Lead Practitioner for Curriculum, at helen.whybrow@ivelvalley.beds.sch.uk