Independence
Character for Independence Curriculum Intent
Our Vision
At Baskerville School, we believe that preparing pupils for adulthood requires more than teaching practical life skills—it requires developing the character, confidence and resilience to use those skills successfully throughout life.
Our Character for Independence Curriculum has been designed to ensure that every pupil develops the knowledge, practical skills and personal qualities needed to live as independently as possible, participate meaningfully in their community and flourish beyond Baskerville.
Built upon a carefully sequenced spiral curriculum, pupils revisit key concepts, routines and experiences throughout their school journey. Knowledge and skills are deliberately revisited in increasingly meaningful and authentic contexts, enabling pupils to build confidence, deepen understanding and apply their learning with greater independence over time.
The curriculum recognises that independence is not simply about completing tasks without support. It is about developing the character to make decisions, solve problems, communicate effectively, show resilience when faced with challenges and confidently navigate the opportunities and responsibilities of adult life.
Learning is personalised through our three curriculum pathways—Discoverer, Explorer and Voyager—ensuring that every pupil is appropriately challenged from their individual starting point whilst maintaining consistently high aspirations for their future.
Our Curriculum Drivers
The Character for Independence Curriculum is underpinned by four interconnected drivers.
Character
We explicitly teach and nurture the personal qualities that enable pupils to thrive throughout life. Every lesson provides opportunities to develop our core character traits of Respect, Independence, Resilience, Aspiration, Hope, Kindness, Confidence and Responsibility. These qualities are embedded within everyday learning rather than taught in isolation.
Independence
Pupils develop the practical knowledge and functional life skills required for successful adult living. Through explicit teaching, modelling, guided practice and repeated application, pupils become increasingly independent across personal care, healthy living, home management, community participation, travel, money management, safety and preparation for adulthood.
Communication
Communication is the foundation of independence. Pupils are supported to communicate choices, express opinions, advocate for themselves, solve problems and develop positive relationships using their preferred methods of communication, including spoken language, symbols, signing, objects of reference and assistive technology.
Our Curriculum Principles
Our Character for Independence Curriculum is built upon six key principles.
Character Drives Independence
Positive character traits provide the foundation for lifelong independence. Pupils learn not only how to complete a task, but also develop the confidence, resilience and responsibility needed to apply these skills independently in everyday life.
A Spiral Curriculum
Knowledge, skills and character are revisited throughout each pathway, allowing pupils to consolidate learning, make meaningful connections and become increasingly independent through repetition, practice and application.
Explicit Teaching
Independence is taught intentionally through modelling, structured teaching, guided practice and carefully planned opportunities to apply learning. Staff gradually reduce support as pupils gain confidence and competence.
Real-Life Learning
Learning is purposeful, practical and meaningful. Wherever possible, pupils develop independence through authentic experiences within school, the home and the wider community, enabling them to generalise their learning across different environments.
Personalised Pathways
Our Discoverer, Explorer and Voyager pathways ensure learning is appropriately adapted to meet individual strengths, needs and aspirations whilst maintaining ambitious expectations for every learner.
Preparation for Adulthood
The curriculum reflects the four Preparing for Adulthood outcomes by supporting pupils to develop:
-
Good health and wellbeing
-
Independent living
-
Community participation
- Future aspirations, employment and lifelong learning where appropriate
Preparation for Life
Every aspect of the curriculum is designed with a clear purpose: preparing pupils for life beyond Baskerville. Learning takes place in authentic contexts and is applied within school, at home and throughout the wider community, ensuring pupils develop transferable skills that support lifelong independence, wellbeing and active citizenship.
Our Curriculum Promise
Every pupil will leave Baskerville with:
-
The knowledge to understand themselves and the world around them.
-
The practical skills to live as independently as possible.
-
The confidence to make informed choices and solve problems.
-
The resilience to overcome challenges and embrace new opportunities.
-
The communication skills to advocate for themselves and build positive relationships.
-
The character to contribute positively to their community.
-
The aspiration to achieve their own personal goals.
-
The preparation needed to live a happy, healthy and meaningful adult life.
