Overview of Personal Development
At Cann Bridge School, we prioritise the personal development of all our learners. We extend our curriculum beyond academic achievements to support holistic growth and ensure that learners are well-prepared for their future.
Curriculum
Our curriculum integrates subjects such as Religious Education and Personal, Social, Health, and Economic (PSHE) education to enhance learners’ personal development. We also include Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), incorporating the SoSAFE! programme, to equip learners with essential life skills and understanding.
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Health & Wellbeing Curriculum Team
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Pathways to Independence Curriculum
Active Citizenship
Cann Bridge School is committed to developing responsible and respectful citizens. We provide opportunities for learners to engage in public life through work-related learning, enrichment activities, educational visits, and residentials that foster active involvement and participation. These experiences help learners transfer and apply their knowledge, preparing them to contribute positively to their communities.
Our learners have actively participated in community consultations, using their voices to influence decision-making. Students run the Post Bridge Café weekly for the whole school to attend, allowing Post-16 students to develop their work-related learning skills, and enabling other learners to gain experience in accessing a community space. This helps them apply and develop their own skills and knowledge, such as social, communication, and money management skills.
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Promoting British Values
Through our curriculum, assemblies, and extracurricular activities, we deepen learners’ understanding of fundamental British values, including democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law, and mutual respect and tolerance. Learners have devised Behaviour Values that align with the school's We Cann House Points system.
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SMSC (including British Values)
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Embracing Equality and Diversity
We promote equality of opportunity, fostering an inclusive environment where all learners can thrive. Our ethos emphasises understanding and appreciating diversity, encouraging learners to view differences as positive and to respect individual uniqueness.
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SMSC (including British Values)
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Character and Resilience
Our focus on character development helps learners cultivate positive personal traits and values. We guide learners to reflect, develop positive behaviours and attitudes, and collaborate effectively with others, equipping them with the qualities necessary to flourish in society. We celebrate learner achievements through weekly Celebration Assemblies, where learners receive We Cann Awards.
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Health and Well-being
We emphasise the importance of mental and physical health. Our curriculum educates learners on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and provides numerous opportunities for physical activity. Each morning, we start the school day with Nurture Breakfast, ensuring all learners' basic needs are met. We also have Circle/Tutor Time each morning to explore our feelings and ensure we are ready to learn. At the end of each day, we have reflection time, celebrating what we have learned before going home. We also teach learners to recognise online and offline risks to their well-being and offer guidance on navigating challenges such as online safety. We also also part of the National Toothbrushing Scheme.
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Health & Wellbeing Curriculum Team
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Healthy School Policy – Under development
Healthy Relationships
Our Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum covers age-appropriate understanding of healthy relationships through a SoSAFE! approach. We address issues such as consent, online safety, and the dangers of inappropriate mobile technology and social media use.
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Health & Wellbeing Curriculum Team
Residentials and Extended Days
We offer a progressive approach to developing independence and personal growth through a range of residential and extended day opportunities across all key stages. In Key Stage 2, learners experience an extended day, providing a foundation for building resilience, teamwork, and social skills. As they move into Key Stage 3, an overnight camp at school helps learners strengthen their teamwork, resilience, and self-confidence. In Key Stage 4, learners take part in more structured residential experiences—previously at Heatree Activity Centre—further enhancing their independence and social skills. At Post Bridge College in Key Stage 5, students have participated in a week-long trip to Butlins, where they apply independent living skills in a real-world setting. Looking ahead to 2025, as part of the Turing Scheme with Eat That Frog, our students will travel to Gran Canaria to experience a different culture while applying their work-related learning and enhancing life skills in an international context. Each of these experiences builds on the previous one, ensuring learners gain the confidence and skills needed for adulthood, supporting their overall personal development.
Transition and Careers
We offer comprehensive Careers Information, Education, Advice, and Guidance (CIEAG). Our careers programme prepares learners for the next phase of their education or employment, providing them with the skills and knowledge to transition successfully, including work-related learning and experience opportunities.
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Duke of Edinburgh and Ten Tors
The Duke of Edinburgh Award and the Ten Tors Challenge offer experiential learning opportunities that significantly contribute to learners’ personal development. The Duke of Edinburgh Award emphasises skill development, physical fitness, and volunteering, promoting lifelong learning, adaptability, teamwork, leadership, and resilience. The Ten Tors Challenge fosters teamwork, leadership, navigation skills, decision-making, physical endurance, self-reliance, and environmental awareness. Both programmes equip learners with essential skills for life beyond school.
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Duke of Edinburgh and Ten Tors
Holiday Clubs and Summer Club
Our Holiday Club and Summer Club offer valuable opportunities for personal development beyond the school day. Learners enhance their social skills and teamwork through group activities in a relaxed environment, fostering friendships and improving communication. Activities range from arts and crafts to sports, helping learners discover new interests and talents while promoting adaptability and a lifelong love of learning.
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Personal Development Club
The Personal Development Club, held on Friday afternoons, allows learners to develop new skills and knowledge that complement the planned curriculum. The club offers personalised enrichment experiences such as learning musical instruments, participating in “Signing Voices” (our choir), and engaging in dance sessions. These activities enhance cognitive abilities, communication skills, physical fitness, and creativity. The club adapts half-termly based on learners’ needs and staff expertise, with recent activities including weekly mile runs leading up to the Schools Challenge Plymouth Marathon. This approach helps learners broaden their horizons and discover new hobbies, interests, and talents.
Work Related Learning & Enterprise
Work-related learning and enterprise activities are fully integrated into the curriculum at Cann Bridge School, playing a vital role in our learners’ personal development. Through practical, real-world projects—such as running mini-businesses, managing school events, and designing and selling products—learners gain valuable hands-on experience that builds confidence and independence. Our programme supports class-based, school-based, and community-based work experience, allowing learners to progressively build their skills, knowledge, and understanding as they move through the school. These activities promote the development of essential functional skills in English, maths, and digital literacy, making learning meaningful and relevant to everyday life.
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Signing Voices
‘Signing Voices’ is our school choir, offering learners the opportunity to develop their singing skills while also learning Makaton signing. Meeting weekly and featured in the Personal Development Club, the choir helps learners enhance their communication skills and musical talents. Learners showcase their skills through performances at the school’s Winter and Summer Shows, the Crownhill Christmas Light Switch-On event, charity functions, and school assemblies. This enriching experience not only fosters musical and sign language proficiency but also boosts learners’ confidence and provides them with a platform to engage with the wider community.
Lunch Time Clubs
Our Lunch Time Clubs offer learners a range of engaging activities, including Wake Up, Shake Up, parachute games, and various sports. These clubs provide learners with valuable opportunities for physical activity, teamwork, and social interaction. Participating in these activities promotes physical fitness, helps learners develop coordination and motor skills, and fosters a sense of camaraderie. By encouraging regular movement and collaborative, modelled, and supported play, lunchtime clubs contribute to personal development by enhancing learners’ well-being, building confidence, and supporting their overall development in a fun and inclusive environment.
Personalised Learning Goals
Personalised Learning Goals are central to our educational approach, offering tailored support for each learner’s development. These goals, which include essential soft skills, academic targets, and objectives aligned with Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) outcomes, are collaboratively set with parents, carers, and therapists. This collaborative process contributes significantly to pupils’ personal development and progress.
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Pathways to Independence Curriculum
Outdoor Learning
Outdoor learning is integrated into our Pathways to Independence Curriculum and utilised as a vehicle for teaching and learning. We provide learners with opportunities to develop skills while engaging with the natural environment, allowing them to explore their creativity and curiosity through hands-on activities, while also supporting their communication skills, motor development, and coordination. Evidence shows that being outdoors helps reduce tension and anxiety, making education both enjoyable and effective. We have a Science Garden where learners can learn to grow food to eat, grow for pleasure, and grow to sell, as well as a Forest Schools area.
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Enrichment Days and Events
Enrichment days and events, including National Careers Week (Day), Wear It Pink Day, Sports Day, Remembrance Day, Anti-Bullying Week, Children in Need, Safer Internet Day, World Book Day, Red Nose Day, Gardening Day, Outdoor Classroom Day, and the Winter and Summer Shows, enhance personal development. These themed days offer learners the chance to engage in a range of activities that extend beyond the regular curriculum. The Winter and Summer Shows provide opportunities for creative expression and teamwork, boosting confidence and presentation skills. Together, these events contribute to a well-rounded education, supporting learners’ growth and preparing them for various aspects of life. To learn more about our Enrichment Days and Events, please visit our Curriculum Team pages.
Interventions and Provisions
The school offers a wealth of interventions and provisions that support our learners’ personal development, including therapists and facilities.
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Family & Learner Support Advisor
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