STEPS Provision

STEPS is for pupils who have multiple and complex needs, involving learning needs and Social Emotional and Mental Health needs. The support is bespoke to those pupils. We focus on overcoming barriers to learning, such as ADHD, ASC and Trauma, and to allow pupils to thrive and achieve.  Our intended outcomes are to provide an holistic development across the following broad outcomes: 

  • Cognition & Learning
  • Communication & Interaction
  • Social, Emotional & Mental Health
  • Sensory and/or Physical 
  • Independence & Managing post-16

All our pupils will have an EHCP and all will have an SEMH element to their profile. Some students that have dual diagnoses of ASC and an additional diagnosis may be placed in STEPS if their presentation matches the STEPS setting appropriately. 

Most students also have Specific Learning Difficulties relating to Literacy and Numeracy.  

The learners in STEPS all require small, careful stepwise learning. Many pupils have an impairment of their Executive Functioning capacity which means revisiting learning helps to embed and consolidate what they have been taught.

Some pupils suffer with low self-esteem and lack of confidence, resulting from an awareness of their learning needs. 

Pupils may have rest breaks / movement breaks to support with executive functioning, concentration and emotional regulation.  

We aim to have a maximum of 8 students in a class, with 2 or 3 staff per class (including a Teacher and a Teaching Assistant).

Admissions to STEPs is through the EHCP consultation process.

 
The Danesgate Way
The offer in ‘STEPs’

Students who join ‘STEPs’ will have an integration meeting to identify the needs of the individual students and to develop a timetable that is very carefully devised to best meet their individual needs.

‘STEPs’ offers education in small groups.

The school day for students in STEPs is:

9.00 to 9.50 Form Time (Lesson 1)
9.50 to 10.40 Lesson 2
10.40 to 11.30 Lesson 3
11.30 to 12.20 Lesson 4
12.20 to 1.10 Lunch
1.10 to 2.00 Lesson 5
2.00 to 2.30 Form Time (Lesson 6)

Subjects offered to students in Year 7, 8 and 9 are:

  • Maths
  • English
  • Geography
  • History
  • PSHCE
  • Art
  • Cooking
  • DT
  • ICT
  • PE
  • Speech and Language
  • SEN Tutorial (A lesson designed to meet a students specific need).
  • Topic

Subjects offered to students in Year 10 and 11 are:

  • Maths
  • English
  • PSHCE
  • BTEC Personal Growth and Wellbeing
  • Life Skills
  • Art
  • ICT
  • PE
  • Speech and Language
  • SEN Tutorial (A lesson designed to meet a students specific need).
  • Qualification and Skills
  • Skills.  Students will choose a subject from the Skills Centre: Construction, Catering or Hair and Beauty.
  • Option. Students will choose an option subject.  Sports Science, Geography, History, Health and Social Care, Science.