SEND Information Report Review Date: 1st October 2025

What is the name and contact details of SENCO for the mainstream school and Area resource base? 

SENDCo for mainstream school and the ARB - Mrs Helen Hodson  HHodson@saltashcloud.net   

As mainstream SENDCo I am passionate about ensuring my staff work together as a Team to achieve more.  

 

TEAM SEND MISSION STATEMENT 

Tenacity – We don’t give up on students. There will be a way, we just have not found it yet. 

Empathy – As hard as it might be to support a child, it must be harder to be that child; open mind and open heart.    

Aspiration – Deliberately ambitious targets and expectations, always looking to be better, never settling for less.    

Motivation – Keeping ‘better life chances’ as the driver for everything we do. 

 

What kind of SEN do we provide for in the mainstream school? 

As an inclusive mainstream school, we are able to provide education for children and young people who are identified as having needs within the following four areas (outlined by the DfE): 

• Communication and interaction 
• Cognition and learning 
• Social, emotional and mental health
• Sensory or physical  

Area Resource Base (ARB) 

The school has a resourced provision for children with more complex learning difficulties funded directly from the local authority. The students in the ARB still attend some mainstream classes and are very much fully included members of our school community

• Admission to the ARB resourced provision is determined by Cornwall County Council. 

How do we assess and identify need? 

We identify and assess students with SEND as early and as thoroughly as possible using the revised Code of Practice (2014). We have a graduated response process which begins at classroom level through contact between teachers and SEND team. This is done via reviews of the tracking data as well as teacher monitoring of in-class engagement. 

• Parents/carers and students are fully involved in the identification and assessment of SEND, and that we always aim for close co-operation between all agencies concerned.
• We aim to meet the needs of all students with SEND by offering appropriate, and at times, flexible forms of educational provision through the most efficient use of all available resources. 

A school’s provision for SEND is defined as support which is additional to or different from that which is available to all students. 

At Saltash Community School, we recognise that students make progress at different rates and not always in a steady linear pattern.  Therefore, students are identified as having SEND in a variety of ways, including the following non-exhaustive list: 

• Liaison with primary school/previous school 
• The student performing below expected levels in a range of subjects and highlighted through our progress tracker system. 
• Concerns raised by parent/carer 
• Concerns raised by teachers either informally or through the achievement trackers. 
• Concerns raised by Heads of Year 
• Concerns/Observations by Learning Support Assistants 
• Concerns/Observations by intervention group leaders 
• Observations during lesson observations 
• Observations on specially arranged learning walks carried out by SENDCO (Helen Hodson) and Acting Headteacher (Sara Del Gaudio) 
• Liaison with external agencies, e.g. school nurse, occupational therapists. 

Students identified with a SEN need will be added to the register of need at the appropriate stage which is monitored by the SENCo Mrs Helen Hodson. 

How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child will receive? 

Our provision is arranged to meet our students’ needs, within the resources available.  This approach reflects the fact that different students require different levels of support in order to achieve age expected attainment. 

The SENDCO consults with subject teachers, academic leaders, and pastoral leaders, as well as with support staff, to discuss the student’s needs and what support would be appropriate. 

There are always ongoing discussions with parents/carers for any student who requires additional support for their learning. 

What should I do if I think my child has special educational needs? 

Your main point of contact at school will usually (but not always) be your child’s tutor.  You can, however, contact the SEND team direct on send@saltashcloud.net

How do we check the effectiveness of provision made for children and young people with SEN? 

Teachers, as part of their professional standards, monitor and review all students’ progress throughout the year.  The whole school system at Saltash Community School includes: 

• Data collection each term, from all teachers.
• In the case of intervention programmes, progress is reviewed every cycle (depending on the intervention).
• In-class, additional support is reviewed regularly by the SENDCO and Assistant SENDCO.
• Teachers are observed by the Leadership Group, SENDCO, and line managers as part of the school ‘Quality Assurance’ programme.
• Mrs S Del Gaudio (School Improvement Lead) is responsible for whole school data and tracks the school’s progress against national standards. 
• At the start of Y7, all students complete the STAR reader assessment to give us a broader understanding of a young person’s potential.
• The school’s rewards and sanctions system Class Charts. 

How do we know if it has had an impact? 

• We see evidence that the student is making progress academically against national/age expected levels and that the gap is narrowing.
• Formal assessment of the provision where this is possible 
• The student is achieving or exceeding their expected levels of progress. 
• Verbal feedback from the teacher, parent and student. 
• Formal or informal observations of the student at school 
• Students may move off the SEND register when they have ‘caught up’ or made sufficient progress. 

How will school support my child? 

Subject teachers are responsible for the progress of students in their lessons.  They are trained to teach children with all types of additional learning requirements and are responsible for making the curriculum accessible to all students. 

The SENDCO is responsible for ensuring that: 

• Teachers understand a student’s needs 
• Teachers are trained in meeting those needs. 
• Teachers have support in planning to meet a student’s needs if required. 
• There is high quality of teaching for students with SEND across the school. 
• Teaching Assistants are deployed, managed and used effectively. 
• That SEND provision across the school is efficiently managed. 
• Progress and attainment for students with SEND is tracked and monitored 
• There is effective home/school communication for children with SEND 
• There is value for money in the provision that we offer. 

• Intervention sessions – when students come out of some lessons for pre-arranged sessions with qualified teachers, counsellors or LSAs on, for example, Fresh Start.
• Disapplication – if long-term intervention is needed, a student can, occasionally, be dis-applied from a subject on the national curriculum, this is authorised at the SENDCO’s discretion. 
• Room 34 –This room is staffed by SEN on call. This is to support students that may be dis-regulated and needing support.  

How will I, as a parent, be consulted and involved in my Child’s SEND provision? 

Please arrange an appointment through send@saltashcloud.net

Planned arrangements for communicating between school and home include: 

• Each term, every student receives an ‘Attainment Profile’.
• Each year group has at least one parents’ surgery evening a year.
• If your child is on the SEND register of need, a review (Assess Plan Do Review) meeting will be held termly. 
• If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or Statement of SEN, there will be at least one formal meeting each year (the Annual Review). 

What is the expectation around homework for students with SEN? 

Homework is set by teachers as an integral part of students’ learning and can contribute directly to how well a student makes progress. 

Various homework clubs are staffed to help students with homework.

How does pupil premium get spent on students with SEND? 

The pupil premium report available on our website outlines where pupil premium money has been allocated and spent for all student groups. 

How is work experience arranged for students with SEND? 

All year 10 students arrange work experience through their PD lessons, but many of our students with SEND are assisted further with their applications and preparation by their tutor, the work-related learning coordinator and senior learning support assistant.

How will my child be included in activities outside the classroom, including school trips? 

All students are entitled to be included in all parts of the school curriculum, and we aim for all students to be included on school trips. We will provide the necessary support to ensure that this is successful. 

A risk assessment is carried out prior to any off-site activity to ensure everyone’s health and safety will not be compromised.  This may include specialist advice where relevant.  In the unlikely event that it is considered unsafe for a student to take part in an activity, then we strive to provide alternative activities that will cover the same curriculum areas at an alternate venue (or within school) for that child. 

How accessible is the school environment? 

• The school site is positioned on a fairly level site, largely over two floors. We do, however, have a passenger lift and wheelchair ramps and lifts to ensure the vast majority of school rooms/areas are readily accessible. 
• The site has disabled toilets large enough to accommodate changing in the Area Resource Base and in other areas of the school. 
• There are two car parks on site – one to the front and one to the rear of the school. 
• We liaise with the local authority specialist teams who assist us in supporting families with English as an additional language or with a Traveller background. 

How does the school manage the administration of medicine? 

Medicines for students are managed by Mrs Booth, from the Student Services room.  If a student requires medicine during the school day, the following procedures must be followed: 

• All medicines must be given in person to Mrs Booth by a parent/carer 
• The student’s name and date of birth are recorded alongside the date, time, name of medicine, and dosage. 
• Depending on how the medicine needs to be stored, it will be kept in either a locked cupboard or a fridge in the Student Services Room. 
• To take their medicine, the student must go to the Student Services room, where the dose will be administered by Mrs Booth (or a designated deputy). 
• Each time the medicine is administered, the time, date and dosage are recorded. 

What support is there for behaviour, avoiding exclusion and increasing attendance? 

The school has a clear Relationships and Behaviour for Learning Policy which utilises the Class Charts system. 

• Our RESTART provision is also a resource for those students who need support to break away from the cycle of fixed term exclusions. 
• Please see the school behaviour policy.

How will the school prepare and support my child when joining the school and transferring to a new school? 

Our goal is to make sure our new students feel like they belong at Saltash Community School before they officially arrive.  Learning is most effective when students feel they belong and are comfortable in the school environment. 

• Transitions are carefully planned and arranged by the Head of Years.  The SENDCO, Assistant SENDCO, ARB Lead Teacher, and tutors.
• All students in year 6 who have accepted a place at Saltash Community School for year 7 are invited to an induction day in June. 
• Parents/carers are invited to an ‘Induction Evening’ at the end of July, to learn about the activities their children have undertaken, to meet key members of the pastoral team and to receive information about the organisation of the school. 
• The SENDCO, or one of the SEND team, visits feeder primary schools to meet students, gather information from year 6 teachers and support staff.
• Saltash Community School operates a year tutor system where students stay in the same tutor group throughout their school career.
• The first day of the new school year in September is for year 7 students only. 
• Every student’s school file is passed on to the Head of Year, (or, in the case of students with SEND, the SENDCO) at the end of year 6/start of year 7. 
• Early in the autumn term, parents/carers of new year 7 students are invited to meet with the child’s tutor, to introduce themselves, share information and establish contact with the school. 

• For Key Stage 4, students choose from a range of GCSE, BTEC and vocational courses, which help to prepare them for the next steps in their education. SEN staff help with these decisions.
• Students and parents/carers are offered advice and careers guidance at the appropriate time to help make these important decisions, often through their Personal Development (PD) lessons.  

• The school arranges visits to open days and further education fairs for all students. 
• Students are encouraged to consider attending university.
• All students in years 12 and 13 are provided with careers advice through timetabled careers lessons to help them plan possible routes for training or education. 

SEND specific 

• Students with a Statement of SEND or an EHCP who are moving on to further education are supported by Careers advisors.
• All information relating to a student’s exam concessions and required differentiation is passed on to college or training provider during the summer term of year 11.

Moving to another school 

• Contact is always made with the new school to ensure the transfer of information and the child’s school file. 

What specialist services and expertise are available at, or accessed by, Saltash Community School? 

• Health – GPs, school nurse, clinical psychologists and psychiatrists (CAMHS), paediatricians, speech & language therapists, and occupational therapists 
• Social services – locality teams, social workers, child protection teams, family intervention programmes 
• Cornwall Cognition and Learning Team 
• Cornwall Autism Spectrum Team  
• Cornwall Educational Psychology Service  
• Cornwall Hearing Impairment Team  
• Cornwall Visual Impairment Team  
• Cornwall SEND Team  
• External SEN Consultants  
• Psychology Associates (Educational psychology, wellbeing practitioners, speech and language, Occupational therapy, Ply therapy and Counselling) 
• School Improvement Partner   

What training do SEND staff receive? 

SEND training is an ongoing rolling programme of professional development for our staff, throughout the school year.

How are the school governors involved, and what are their responsibilities? 

• The SENDCO reports to the governors annually to inform them about the progress of students with SEND via a written report; this report does not refer to individual students and confidentiality is maintained at all times. 
• A named governor is responsible for SEND and regularly meets with the SENDCO. This ‘SEND link governor’ also reports to the governing committees, to keep all the governors informed. 

Who can I contact if I have a complaint? 

Our SMART Trust Complaints Policy explains what should be done, should such a situation arise.  

Who can I contact for further information? 

• A parent/carer’s first point of contact should be the child’s tutor to share concerns, and they can be contacted via enquiries@saltashcloud.net or 01752 843715 
• Parents/carers can also arrange to meet the SENDCO Helen Hodson: HHodson@saltashcloud.net - 01752 843715  

All admissions are managed by the local authority in Truro.  

www.cornwall.gov.uk/schools-and-education/schools-and-colleges/school-admissions  

 

Local Offer information 

You can also find information on Cornwall’s SEND Local Offer at the following link – Support In Cornwall, Local Offer