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Oak Pathway

 Primary & Secondary Cohort - 2025-26 

Oak Pathway

Length of Lessons 

  • Average length of lesson for this cohort is 20 - 30 minutes per lesson although it can vary depending on the age and attention of the cohort 

  • Learning should typically follow a cycle of regulation, work, break (including choice time).  

  • Scheduled break times should not extend beyond 10 minutes. Scheduled regulation should not extend beyond 15 minutes maximum. 

Number of Lessons to be covered 

  • Minimum of 3 lessons in the morning every day (unless including a specific extra curricular activity such as swimming, PFA, special event). If learning is less than 20 minutes there should be further lessons included. 

  • Minimum of 3 lessons in the afternoon (this includes a 10 minute reflection lesson/assembly). If learning is less than 20 minutes there should be further lessons included. 

  • There should be a minimum of 120 minutes of lesson learning time in a day. Each pupil has an additional 90 minutes per day of individualised sessions to learn regulation skills which is essential learning for this cohort, this includes sensory circuits & time in regulation rooms 

  • Play times should be labelled as ‘Break’ not Play and Leisure as this is a curriculum subject area and typical breaks do not cover the depth and breadth of this curriculum area 

Sample Oak Timetable

Core Subjects

Literacy Numeracy Wellbeing & Health Play & Leisure Sensory & Physical Development
  • ​Communication 
  • ​Literacy - Personalised reading and writing including alternative pencil 

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  • ​To be embedded in every lesson: 
  • ​Equals Five tier approach 
  • ​Functional numeracy 
  • ​ICT 

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  • ​Healthy Eating and Lifestyles 
  • ​Mental Health and wellbeing including SP Regulation curriculum 

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  • ​Type of play e.g.  
  • ​sensorimotor, cause/effect, functional, symbolic, socio-dramatic 
  • ​Social Level of play e.g. solitary, parallel, shared, turn taking, cooperative 
  • ​TACPAC & massage 
  • ​DIR Floortime 
  • ​Self Occupancy 
  • ​PE - including swimming, rebound, sports 
  • ​Visiting parks, local shops, cafes, leisure centres etc 
  • ​Body awareness and physical changes 
  • ​Personal hygiene 
  • ​Relationships & Sex Education/ Relationships and Health Education 
​Expected Coverage 
  • ​Communication and Literacy embedded.  
  • ​Additional: 5 scheduled communication/ literacy lesson every week 
  • ​Numeracy and Thinking and Problem Solving concepts embedded.  ​ 
  • ​Additional: 3  discrete lessons a week minimum (e.g. money skills, counting skills)
  • 5 lessons per week including 1 healthy eating/ lives 

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  • ​3 scheduled lessons per week  for primary cohort 
  • ​(this can overlap with another curriculum area e.g wellbeing - PE)  
  • ​2 scheduled lessons per week  for secondary cohort 
  • ​3 (primary)/ 4 secondary) scheduled lessons per week ​ 
  • ​(1 PE, 1 swimming, 1 RSE/ RHE lesson per week for primary cohort, 2 lessons per week for secondary cohort

Foundation Subjects

​Creativity  Humanities (including citizenship) Science and Technology Outdoor School Preparing for Adulthood
  • ​Music  
  • ​Dance / performance 
  • ​Art  
  • ​Drama 

 

  • ​History 
  • ​Geography 
  • ​RE 
  • ​Citizenshipe.g. British Values & rights respecting 
  • ​Reflection 
  • ​Assemblies  
  • ​Biology 
  • ​Physics 
  • ​Chemistry 
  • ​ICT 
  • ​DT 

  • ​Interactions with peers 
  • ​Interactions with staff 
  • ​Self-Motivation 
  • ​Ability to transition 
  • ​Engagement and participation 
  • ​Forest school 
  • ​Employment 
  • ​Independent living 
  • ​Dressing & Undressing 
  • ​Shopping 
  • ​Cooking/Food  
  • ​Travel Training 
  • ​Safety 
​Expected Coverage 
  • ​​2 scheduled lesson per week (ensure all areas are covered within the year) 
  • ​​1 scheduled lesson per week (ensure at least 3 topics are covered per year)  
  • ​3 reflections  and 2 assembly per week 
  • ​1 scheduled ICT lesson and 1 schedule science topic lesson 
  • ​​1 scheduled lesson per week ​Embedded.  ​ 
  • ​Additional 2 discrete lessons a week (e.g. dressing, cooking, SOS feeding, travel training, shopping) 

Total Curriculum Coverage