Specialist curriculum available for pupils with PMLD

September 2009

The new edition of a curriculum designed specifically to meet the needs of pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) is now available. The Profound Education Curriculum, developed by St Margaret’s School in Tadworth, Surrey, enables users to make detailed assessments of pupils’ achievements and measure them against the National Curriculum P Scales.

St Margaret’s is one of the UK’s only schools to cater exclusively for pupils with PMLD and complex health needs. Recognising that the National Curriculum was unable to measure adequately the small but significant developmental steps made by its pupils, the school began developing its own curriculum over ten years ago. The curriculum was originally published in 2006 and has since been purchased by over 40 special schools in the UK and internationally.

The new edition, renamed The Profound Education Curriculum, features updated content, new colour-coding that links each developmental area to National Curriculum P Scales 1-4 and a CD-ROM of assessment sheets so that pupil records can be maintained electronically.

Jan Cunningham, St Margaret’s School’s Head Teacher, said: “We are very proud to have produced this new and updated version of our curricululm. The Profound Education Curriculum is a vital tool for us here at St Margaret’s for assessing and measuring the achievements of our pupils. By making it available for other schools we hope that many more children and young people with PMLD will benefit from the expertise that my team has developed.

“Profound Education as a whole is the overarching educational approach behind everything we do at St Margaret’s, including our curriculum. It places each pupil at the heart of their learning experience and gives them the opportunity to achieve and succeed regardless of their level of disability.”

Copies of The Profound Education Curriculum can be purchased from the school for £280. For more information please contact Elaine Lush on 01737 365810 or elush@thechildrenstrust.org.uk

St Margaret’s School is hosting a special one day conference for specialists working with children and young people with PMLD on 24 October. For more information visit The Children's Trust website.