Pupil learning is planned around individual strengths, needs and motivators and focuses on targets, reviewed regularly in each pupil's IEP and linked to objectives on their statement of special educational need.  Priority areas of learning in the IEP are based upon those found in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS):

• Communication, language and literacy
• Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy (including ICT)
• Personal, social and emotional development
• Physical development
• Knowledge and understanding of the world
• Creative development

The development of communication and interaction skills remains a priority for all pupils and is promoted throughout the school day.

All learning is justifiably linked to a clear functional purpose, i.e. a skill that the pupil can use in their everyday living and is transferable in a wide range of contexts in and out of school, setting firm foundations for the skills needed for living and enjoying life.

Curriculum access is achieved at St John's by the adoption of specialist approaches to teaching and learning. Approaches include those that are specific to pupils with multi-sensory impairment (MSI) or those with autistic spectrum conditions (ASC).