Learning for Life is Brookhaven's daily Personal Development curriculum, delivered at the start of the school day following form time.
Each morning during form time, learners begin the day in a calm, structured and nurturing environment where they have access to breakfast, social interaction and support from familiar adults. Learning for Life builds upon this foundation, providing a consistent and purposeful transition into learning.
The curriculum has been specifically designed to support the needs of our learners by developing the knowledge, skills and strategies required for successful learning, emotional wellbeing, independence and preparation for adulthood.
What is Learning for Life?
Learning for Life exists to develop:
- Emotional regulation
- Self-awareness
- Understanding how we learn
- Communication and self-advocacy
- Independence
- Preparation for adulthood
It supports learners to move from:
Understanding me then Preparing for my future
Learning for Life enables learners to:
- Develop emotional regulation and self-awareness skills
- Understand how their brain works and how they learn most effectively
- Build resilience, confidence and independence
- Develop self-advocacy and communication skills
- Contribute to school life through meaningful student voice opportunities
- Prepare for adulthood, transition and life beyond Brookhaven
The curriculum combines evidence-informed approaches, including Zones of Regulation, My Mind Coach, Smart School Council and Thrive-informed practice.
Delivered through a combination of structured curriculum content, student voice activities and personalised developmental projects, Learning for Life supports learners to become increasingly independent, confident and prepared for the next stage of their lives.
The weekly structure
Each day of the week has its own strand.
Monday
Emotional regulation
Formal curriculum
Tuesday
Science behind the way we think
Formal curriculum
Wednesday
Our voice
Responsive student voice curriculum
Thursday
Class development project
Bespoke curriculum (Thrive)
Friday
My progress
Formal curriculum
Monday, Tuesday and Friday follow a planned curriculum. Wednesday is a responsive student voice curriculum, and Thursday is a responsive developmental curriculum built around each class's needs.
Learning for Life: the five-year journey
Each year has a theme and a big question.
-
Year 7
Understanding me
Who am I?
-
Year 8
Understanding myself with others
How do I understand myself in relation to other people and the world around me?
-
Year 9
Developing my potential
What am I capable of achieving?
-
Year 10
Becoming independent
How do I become increasingly independent?
-
Year 11
Preparing for my future
How do I prepare for life beyond Brookhaven?
Progression across the years
Three of the strands follow a planned sequence, building each year towards independence.
| Strand | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emotional regulation | What am I feeling? | How do I understand complexity and uncertainty? | How do I cope with challenge and setbacks? | How do I manage responsibility and pressure? | How do I manage uncertainty and transition independently? |
| Science behind the way we think | How does my brain work? | How do my thoughts influence my actions? | How do I learn most effectively? | How do I organise myself for independence? | How do I learn independently and achieve my goals? |
| My progress | What are my targets? | What do I know about myself? | What are my aspirations and strengths? | What skills do I need for adulthood? | What are my plans for the future? |
- Emotional regulationFeelings then Complexity then Challenge then Responsibility then Transition
- Science behind the way we thinkBrain awareness then Thinking skills then Effective learning then Executive function then Independent learning
- My progressAchievement then Self-understanding then Potential then Preparation for adulthood then Transition planning
Want to know more?
We are always happy to talk about Learning for Life and how it supports your child.
