The Mackenzie Thorpe Centre has a clear vision designed to give pupils knowledge, skills and behaviours to promote their social and economic inclusion. Pupils are aged 5 to 19 and autistic and/or neurodivergent. All pupils experience differences in the way they process information which requires specialist support in order to remove barriers for pupils to engage and learn.
The school has a responsive curriculum to ensure that it matches the needs and aspirations of all pupils by providing personalised learning programmes, taking account of their starting point and planned destination so that all pupils can participate, achieve and make progress.
The school works to prepare all pupils for the next stage in their education, employment and/or lives through a coherent and sequenced learning experience.
We structure the curriculum according to four main pathways. These are:
- Educational Pathway
- Communication and Sensory
- Pathway to Continuing Education/Employment
- Pathway to Independent Living
The curriculum is planned to:
- Equip each pupil with the skills, knowledge and behaviour needed to fulfil aspirations for learning, employment and independence
- Develop skills to enhance employment opportunities in real-life situations including meaningful work experience
- Develop pupils independence in their everyday lives and take an active part in their local communities
- Improve communication skills
- Empower pupils to have greater independence in making relevant personal choices and decisions about their lives
- Increase self-confidence and resilience
- Enable pupils to develop strategies to regulate their own well-being
- Equip pupils to be responsible, respectful and active citizens who contribute positively to society
- Enable pupils to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives
- Develop functional skills that pupils are able to transfer in to all aspects of their lives
5 -19
Pupils must have an EHCP
Places at McKenzie Thorpe are commissioned through Redcar and Cleveland Local Authority.