Curriculum
Pupils can join Stanley School at any point in their education journey. When a pupil joins the school, staff work closely with families and professionals to ensure they are placed on the most appropriate learning pathway for their individual needs.
The school takes time to really understand each pupil through:
- Reviewing their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) – understanding their needs, strengths and what they're working towards
- Visiting their current school or setting – observing how they learn and what helps them do their best
- Speaking with parents and carers – listening to those who know the child best
- Consulting with professionals – working with therapists and specialists who may already support the child or their family
This careful approach ensures that from their very first day, each pupil receives the right support to help them flourish.
Stanley School doesn't have a traditional Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) setting. Instead, the learning pathways are carefully designed to give every pupil – whatever their age – the right kind of learning for where they are in their development, incorporating and aligning with EYFS principles, where appropriate.
Our Core Values
At Stanley School, everything is built on four core values:
🤝 Caring
The school creates a nurturing, safe environment where every child feels valued, understood and supported. Staff build trusting relationships with pupils and families, ensuring everyone feels they belong.
📚 Learning
The school believes all children can learn, achieve and make progress when they have the right support. Every achievement is celebrated, no matter how small, with a commitment to helping each child reach their full potential.
🌈 Inclusive
The school embraces and celebrates the uniqueness of every child. The curriculum pathways ensure that all pupils – whatever their needs – can access meaningful learning experiences that are right for them.
🎯 Ambitious
Stanley School has high aspirations for all pupils – not just about academic progress, but about preparing every child for a fulfilling adult life where they can contribute to their community and live as independently as possible.
These values run through everything the school does – from how the curriculum is designed to how staff interact with pupils every day.
Curriculum Vision
Stanley School delivers a rich, inclusive and meaningful curriculum that brings the core values to life. The curriculum is:
- Caring – designed around each child's needs, interests and ways of learning
- Learning-focused – helping every child know more, remember more and do more
- Inclusive – ensuring all pupils can access and succeed in their learning
- Ambitious – preparing pupils not just for their next steps in education but for meaningful and fulfilling lives in their communities and the wider world
The curriculum is dynamic and adaptable, recognising that all children can learn, achieve, and contribute when given the right support and opportunities.
Curriculum Pathways
Stanley School offers four different learning pathways: Purple, Indigo, Saffron and Fuchsia. Each pathway reflects the core values and is designed to meet different learning needs, with a focus on thinking and understanding, communication, physical and sensory development, and emotional and social growth.
These pathways are flexible – pupils can move between them as they develop and their needs change. Every child builds on what they've learnt before, progressing at their own pace.
More information about each curriculum pathway can be found below.
At Stanley School, every child matters. Through a caring, learning-focused, inclusive and ambitious approach, the school helps every child achieve their potential and prepare for a fulfilling future.
This curriculum information is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure it meets the needs of pupils and reflects current best practice and statutory requirements.