Implementing an inclusive SEND curriculum – Life Skills & Foundation Curriculum

Are you confident that your curriculum genuinely prepares pupils with SEND for life beyond school — not just academically, but socially, emotionally and functionally? Many schools recognise the importance of life skills, personal development and foundation learning for pupils with SEND, yet struggle to define what this looks like in practice, how learning should be sequenced, and how progress can be evidenced meaningfully. The Briarwood Life Skills & Foundation Curriculum has been purposefully designed for pupils with SEND, including those with complex learning profiles. It provides a coherent, ambitious and practical framework that supports pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need for life now and in the future.

Our curriculum overview brings learning together through carefully mapped, meaningful links, helping pupils revisit and apply learning across contexts while avoiding unnecessary duplication and cognitive overload. Pupil voice, personal development, careers and opportunities for accreditation are embedded throughout the curriculum.

Alongside the foundation curriculum areas, My Independence is delivered as a dedicated curriculum area, supporting functional life skills, independence and real-world application of learning.

The Life Skills & Foundation Curriculum includes:

My Independence – developing functional life skills, independence, decision-making and real-world application

Myself – developing self-awareness, emotional wellbeing, relationships, personal safety and safeguarding

My World – exploring meaningful history, personal change, cause and effect, people, places, beliefs and RE

Science – making National Curriculum science themes accessible through practical exploration and scientific enquiry

My Creativity – supporting expression, communication, imagination and identity through creative experiences

My Body – developing physical skills, health, movement, body awareness and sensory regulation

Technology – developing digital, assistive and real-world technology skills for communication, access and independence

Rather than focusing on isolated lessons or activities, this training explores how these areas are mapped, sequenced, adapted and assessed across SEND pathways, ensuring learning is purposeful, progressive and rooted in independence and preparation for adulthood.

What the day will cover:

• Implementing a structured Life Skills & Foundation Curriculum that is ambitious and accessible

• Exploring the curriculum overview and how meaningful links are mapped across areas while avoiding cognitive overload

• Understanding curriculum pathways and the graduated response

• Embedding My Independence within curriculum planning and classroom practice

• Embedding pupil voice, safeguarding, personal development, careers and accreditation

• Making learning meaningful and accessible while maintaining subject intent

• Evidencing progress where development is small-step, non-linear or highly personalised

What you’ll take away:

• Ready-to-use Life Skills & Foundation Curriculum handbooks

• A clear curriculum overview showing how learning connects across the year

• Progression frameworks and assessment guidance

• Practical examples of learning in SEND classrooms

• Approaches for embedding pupil voice, personal development, careers and accreditation

• Confidence in articulating your SEND curriculum to Ofsted

• A 1:1 follow-up session with a Briarwood curriculum lead to support implementation in your setting

This CPD is ideal for school leaders, SEND leaders and teachers who want clarity, consistency and confidence in delivering a high-quality SEND foundation curriculum beyond English and Maths.

Join us from 9.00am to 3.15pm at the Briarwood Training and Development Centre, Briar Way for a practical day of training designed to support you in embedding BEYS within your setting.

£500 for up to two colleagues, including lunch and an additional one-hour coaching session with a Briarwood senior leader to help you translate the training into effective practice in your school.