New Horizons
About this course
What is New Horizons?
New Horizons is a flexible, activity-based programme for learners aged 9 to 13 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
It supports the delivery of PSHE, Citizenship and Careers Education, while helping learners develop communication, numeracy, confidence and life skills through practical activities.
As part of ASDAN’s Preparing for Adulthood range, New Horizons helps learners recognise small steps of achievement, reflect on their progress and build the skills they need for future learning, independence and everyday life.
ASDAN has completed a full review of New Horizons to update the content and make sure it continues to create meaningful outcomes for young people with diverse needs.
The updated course materials include the student book, tutor guidance and supporting resources. Each module now includes eight sections to choose from. Module 5, Relationships, changes and feelings, also includes separate KS2, age 9 to 11, and KS3, age 11 to 13, options.
Our New Horizons: changes for 2025 document outlines how the modules have been updated and developed following feedback from ASDAN members. It also includes the titles of the new sections created.
| Learner age | 9–13 |
| Level (indicative for non-regulated courses) | Pre-Entry level, Entry level |
| Key Stage | Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3 |
| Education setting | Special school, Community Education, EOTAS, Academy / Multi-academy trust, Independent school, Primary, Secondary |
| Regulated | Non-regulated course |
| Certification | Externally certificated, hard-copy only |
| Location | England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, International (including Channel Islands and Ireland) |
| UCAS points | No UCAS points available |
| Available on Equitas | No |
| Pathway | Independent Living |
Who is New Horizons for?
New Horizons has been developed for learners aged 9 to 13 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
It is used by special schools, primary schools, secondary schools, academies, multi-academy trusts, independent schools, EOTAS providers, community education settings and other organisations supporting learners with diverse needs.
Progression routes from New Horizons
Progression routes are available via ASDAN’s suite of Preparing for Adulthood’s (PfA) programmes:
For those seeking a qualification outcome, New Horizons can be used to support the delivery of the Entry 1 qualifications in Personal Progress.
There is also scope for progression through:
Requirements
New Horizons is learner-centred, flexible and structured. It supports recognition for small steps of achievement and gives learners opportunities to build confidence through practical, real-life activities.
Working with their tutor, each learner completes a module reflection in the New Horizons record book. This helps them identify what they are good at, what they enjoyed, what they found difficult and the skills they have developed.
The final activity in each module is My chosen activity. This gives learners, supported by their tutor, the opportunity to choose something new they would like to try linked to the module topic.
Levels of support are used to show how each learner has achieved an activity. This helps centres recognise individual progress and differentiate between learners:
- Experience recorded
- Gestural help
- No help
- Physical help
- Sensory experience
- Spoken/signed help
Modules
New Horizons is organised into five modules:
- Personal
- Social
- Health
- Citizenship
- Relationships, changes and feelings
Each module includes practical activities that support PSHE, Citizenship, Careers Education, communication, numeracy and life skills. Each module also contains a focused careers-related activity, helping learners start to explore future pathways in an age-appropriate way.
New Horizons student book
Download sample pages from the New Horizons student book.
Each student must have their own book.
Become a member
Your organisation must be an ASDAN member to deliver this programme.
Our team will discuss your learners’ needs, intended delivery and approval requirements with you.
Create a cohort
Once your organisation is approved, create a learner cohort through the members’ area.
Provide the course coordinator’s details, expected completion date and number of learners. Learners should be registered within 60 days of starting and before assessment takes place.
Resources
ASDAN provides a wide range of supporting resources, including course standards with guidance and assessment materials. All resources related to your course can be found on the course webpage.
ASDAN training supports staff to introduce and deliver Preparing for Adulthood successfully. It provides guidance on programme selection, person-centred planning, delivery, assessment and internal quality assurance.
Training is included as part of ASDAN membership for organisations joining or renewing after 1 April 2026, excluding tailored INSET.
All costs shown below are per candidate, unless otherwise stated. Each learner will need their own copy of the student book.
Books purchased for New Horizons are valid for five years from the date of purchase.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| New Horizons student book | £13 |
| New Horizons tutor guidance | £20 |
| PfA skills sticker pack | £15 |
| Postal moderation (on demand, per portfolio) | £51 |
| Certification | £7.50 |
Products can be purchased below.
Products
Course resources
Programmes: record of questioning
Programmes: my photograph evidence (PDF version)
Please download a copy of this resource and open it in a PDF application (eg Adobe Acrobat) to upload your photographic evidence
Programmes: my photograph evidence (Word version)
Programmes: education staff witness statement
Programmes: non education staff witness statement
Programmes: formative observation checklist