Curriculum pathways
At Hatton, our curriculum is built around three distinct pathways, or tiers, which correspond directly to our Hatton Progression steps. Rather than using fixed ability bands, these pathways act as a guide to ensure every child experiences the perfect level of care, supoprt, and challenge tailored to their unique baseline
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Our Early Years curriculum is designed for our youngest learners, focusing on providing a nurturing, sensory rich environment where children feel secure to explore and learn. We adapt the statutory UK EYFS framework to meet the unique developmental profiles of our pupils, prioritising communication, physical development, and personla, social, and emotional growth
Learning at this stage is highy interactive and play based. We have specialist strategies, including visual schedules, sensory regulation breaks, and intensive interaction into daily routines to ensure our youngest children build the vital baseline skkills needed for their journey into our wider curriculum pathways.
Statutory Overview: For a detailed breakdown of how we map progress across the 7 Areas of Learning, you can view our full Statutory EYFS Policy Document
Explorers
Focus: Building Foundations and Early understanding
How it works: The Explorers pathways is designed for our earliest learners and those developing fundamental baseline skills. Learning in this tier is deeply experimental, therapeutic, and interactive. We prioritise early communication, physical development, sensory processing, and environmental awareness, creating a secure foundation that helps our pupils begin to explore the world around them
Investigators
Focus: Deepening Thinking and Applying Knowledge
How it works: The Investigators pathway focuses on helping pupils take their foundational skills and apply them to practical, real world contexts. This tier heavily emphasises functional communication, life skills, independence, and emotional regulation. Lessons are structured and topic-based, encouraging pupils to think critically, solve practical problems, and navigate their daily routines with growing independence
Adventurers
Focus: Extending Learning Through Greater Challenge
How it works: The Adventurers pathway is designed to extend learning and stretch academic potential through an adapted, subject-specific curriculum. Pupils explore distinct learning areas with specialised visual supports and paced delivery. This tier focuses on deepening cognitive skills, expanding literacy and numeracy, and building a strong foundation that prepares our pupils for secondary school and life beyond Hatton.
