EQUALS Formal Curriculum
A brand new formal curriculum has been developed and published, which has been specifically written for pupils working consistently and over time below age-related expectations. It is non-key stage specific, so pupils work at levels appropriate to their developmental stage.
The EQUALS Formal Curriculum has been designed for that very small percentage of the school population, perhaps as low as two per cent (Einfeld and Emerson, 2001) who have learning difficulties to such a degree that they are consistently working at levels considerably below their age-related peers for all of their academic lives across all or most academic areas.
In England, such pupils will probably be regarded as having moderate learning difficulties (MLD) or, more likely, severe learning difficulties (SLD). Some, perhaps many, of this population may also have a diagnosis of an autistic spectrum condition (ASC), but it is the level of the individual’s learning difficulties that is of concern here. That is, the existence of autism may affect how the pupil is taught, but the existence of this severity of learning difficulty will affect what the pupil is taught.
The evidence of the difficulties faced by such pupils will become increasingly apparent beyond Year 1 at age 6 or so, because the difficulties will be global: that is, they will affect all learning, rather than specific learning difficulties (SpLD) such as dyslexia and dyscalculia, which will affect part of learning.
Global Learning Difficulties
- Consistently and over time working at levels considerably below their neurotypical peers
- Will have difficulties with reading and writing and number
- Difficulties with concentration and attention
- Difficulties with abstract concepts
- Difficulties with long-term memory
- Difficulties with working memory
- Poor general knowledge
- Difficulties with problem solving
Schemes of work
The EQUALS Formal Curriculum includes schemes of work for:
- Maths
- English
- Independence
- Play & Leisure
- Physical Wellbeing
- The World About Us
- Outdoor Schooling
Click here to visit the Equals Formal Curriculum website
