Special Educational Needs

Key Members of SEND staff

Leadership 

• Miss Quinn Associate Assistant Head SEND (KS4) NASENCo  
• Mr. Gillo Associate Assistant Head SEND (KS3) NPQSENCo 
• Miss Marsh ARB SENCo NASENCo  
• Mrs. Edson, Assistant SENCo KS3
• Mr. Hill, Assistant SENCo KS4
• Mrs. Bowman English Teacher & Exams Access Assessor / Arrangements Lead

SEND Teachers: Miss Tyley  and Mrs Spargo

Higher Level SEND Support:  Miss Watts (ARB) HLTA  

Tier 2 TAs:  Mrs Williams Physical and Medical Needs Coordinator, Miss Mack Sensory Needs (HI & VI), Mrs Court Speech, Language and Communication, Mrs Robbins Cognition and Learning  

TAs: Mrs Annear, Mrs Pennock, Miss Richards, Miss Mason, Mrs Turner, Mrs Jones, Mr Taylor-Brown, Mrs Worsley, Ms Payne, Mr  Bennett, Mrs Hamilton 

SEND Administrator:  Mrs Cooper  

Ernie and Hank - our lovely school dogs

ARB Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact

Penryn College ARB, situated on the Penryn College campus, is a specialist provision for children with an EHCP. Students who attend the ARB follow an adapted curriculum, accessed through targeted support which is tailored to meet individual needs. All students at Penryn College are encouraged, and supported, to reach their full potential. ARB places are commissioned by the local authority as part of a child's annual review process. 

 The Vision for Penryn College ARB 

 Penryn College ARB strives to achieve these five objectives: 

1.  To produce and implement a high-quality, accessible learning journey, where we celebrate success and achievement. 

2. A student-centered ARB, where every child is nurtured, supported and appropriately challenged. 

3. Clear and consistent expectations, with appropriate reasonable adjustments that prepare students for life beyond Penryn College.

4. A safe and dynamic learning environment that adapts to meet current need.

5. Where students leave Penryn College able to read, and where possible, are functionally literate.  

 Curriculum Intent:  

Penryn College ARB provides a high quality, adapted curriculum that is designed to be flexible in meeting every need for every individual. Students attending our ARB receive an adapted curriculum, mirroring that of their Penryn College peers. This ensures that we can prioritise and strive for both uncapped academic achievement and personal learning targets tailored to every individual.  

Students join Penryn College ARB at varying stages of their secondary educational journey; the majority joining in Year 7. Classes can thereby be key stage specific or year group specific, depending on the needs and make-up of the students on roll in a given academic year. To cater for our cohorts year on year, our core curriculum is tweaked annually to ensure that every student receives the full breadth of  subject topics across their time at Penryn College.  

Curriculum Implementation:  

Our core curriculum is an adaptation of our whole school curriculum. Students learn the same topics as their peers, which is appropriately adapted to meet their needs. Our aim is to ensure that all students have the necessary exposure, learning and skills to meet their full potential across their learning journey at Penryn College. We carefully craft our timetable so that it can allow key individuals to attend some or multiple lessons with peers outside of our ARB where this is both academically and socially appropriate; particularly if students are endeavoring to, sit their GCSEs. We recognise that a place in our ARB can be commissioned for a range of needs, and it is vital that some individuals continue to have a suitably ambitious curriculum offer that challenges them academically. For students where GCSEs may not be suitable, students follow an adapted pathway to Entry Level qualifications. 

All students who attend Penryn College ARB, are students of Penryn College. All students are part of a tutor group and attend daily alongside their Penryn College peers, as well as personal development lessons. For some students, we run small group interventions within our ARB that focus on personal outcomes. This can include, but is not limited to: Fun Fit, Reading/Phonics, Social Skills, SALT, Physiotherapy plans and Fine Motor Skills.  

KS3 Core Curriculum Subjects:  English, Maths Science, STEAM, World Studies (History, Geography and RE), PE, Food Technology, Art, Lifeskills, Drama and Music.  

KS4 Curriculum:  At Key Stage Four, there are two typical offers: a Full ARB Offer, and a bespoke offer that incorporates GCSEs. Every student at Penryn College ARB has access to a broad and balanced curriculum, with a significant focus on preparing for adulthood and Post-16 further education.   

 Lifeskills and Enrichment for all learners: 

• Preparing for Adulthood  
• Bronze Duke of Edinburgh  
• Enhanced transition to Post-16  
• Year 10 Work Experience  

Preparing for Adulthood: 

Students attending our ARB follow the mainstream lifeskills curriculum, while also ensuring that we provide tailored learning from the personal outcomes in their Education, Health and Care Plan. We recognise that for many of our learners, practical and hands-on experiences support their understanding of how we can take our learning in the classroom and apply it to everyday life. For this reason, we provide students with opportunities to apply their skills to real life scenarios such as: trips on public transport; visits to local post-16 colleges; trips to the local supermarket for cooking ingredients; practical road safety lessons and guest speakers to learn and discuss topical issues from real life experts (e.g. the Police; YZUP and Smile Dentist).   

When students reach Key Stage 4, it is of paramount importance that the students attending our ARB have the opportunity to access work experience. We cater for the individual needs of all learners to ensure that this can be a success for everyone. Our recent Year 10 cohort attended the following placements:  Bodmin Steam Railway; Space Port; Falmouth Primary Academy; Georgia’s Voice; Sasha Would have Loved It; South Crofty Mine; Truro Cathedral and Laser Master. The degree of support offered for work experience is tailored to the individual.  

We run a robust post-16 transition process, working closely with Careers Southwest and local Post-16 providers to ensure that all students have had the opportunity to visit a range of local colleges to support them in making an informed decision for Post-16. We have links with a range of colleges, including: The Kehelland Trust; Truro College; Duchy College and Cornwall College Camborne who arrange annual bespoke tours for our students. In addition, we facilitate a Post-16 Careers Fair with all local colleges in Cornwall, where parents and students have the opportunity to meet with the college experts to discuss possible courses for the future. We commence a robust transition package for all students in Year 11 to ensure that they are well prepared for their Post-16 provision upon leaving Penryn College ARB. 

Enrichment Opportunities:  Alongside the core curriculum offer, Penryn College ARB strive to provide a well-rounded, enriching and engaging curriculum experience for all. Upon leaving Penryn College ARB, our aim is for all students to have the skills to safely engage and succeed in wider society.  

Example enrichment opportunities that we are currently offering, but not limited to:  Duke of Edinburgh (supported and accessible), Tremough University Gym sessions, School Dog support, Entering the Falmouth Spring Flower Show, Entering the Royal Academy of Art Young Artists Summer Show, Entering ARB’s Got Talent, The Secret Garden Project, Summer ARB Community Football Tournament, Cornwall School Games with local schools,  Inclusion Table Cricket Tournament with local schools, School trips: Nancarrow Farm; SUEZ; Poetry Workshop at Falmouth Art Gallery; Kehelland Trust.  

Curriculum Impact:  

Our curriculum has a strong and sustained impact on students’ academic progress, personal development, and readiness for life beyond school. Central to this success is the positive, triangulated relationship between parents, students and ARB staff. This partnership ensures consistent communication, shared expectations and a unified approach to supporting each learner, both in school and at home. We also work in close liaison with alternative provisions and external agencies to ensure that we can provide the upmost care and support for students attending our ARB.  

Repeated routines, reinforcements, and clear expectations underpin daily practice – they are valuable for all learners, but vital for some. These structures provide predictability and security, enabling students to access learning with confidence and develop their self‑regulation skills. Lesson expectations and structures mirror the whole‑school approach, ensuring seamless understanding between the ARB and the wider school community. The ARB is fully embedded in whole‑school decision‑making, reinforcing inclusion and shared responsibility for all learners. 

At Penryn College, we maintain high expectations for every student, including those who attend our ARB. We fundamentally believe that high expectations prepare students for adulthood, and support students to prepare for life beyond Penryn College through a curriculum that promotes independence, resilience and ambition. Small class sizes allow staff to work closely with each student in every lesson, thus maximising progress through personalised support and targeted intervention. 

When social challenges arise, staff provide immediate, tailored guidance to help students understand expectations and learn from the situation. This approach prioritises teaching and reflection. Social skills development is woven throughout the curriculum, with praise and reinforcement used to build confidence, pride and a sense of achievement. 

Attendance at Penryn College ARB is recognised and celebrated, with improved or sustained attendance acknowledged regularly. Our aim is to ensure that students feel safe, valued and motivated to be in school each day. Each student has a key adult who works with them daily to track attendance, behaviour and progress against personalised targets and outcomes. This consistent relationship strengthens communication with families and ensures that support is responsive and well‑coordinated. 

Students access a range of appropriate qualifications, including Entry Level pathways that enable progression to college. Where suitable, students have the opportunity to study GCSE subjects; we introduce a gradual transition within Key Stage 3 to prepare them for Year 10 and beyond. We ensure that every Year 11 student in our ARB receives a strong and carefully planned transition package to prepare them for Post-16 pathways. Our commitment to supporting learners beyond Penryn College is reflected in the success of our 2024/25 cohort, where all students leaving our ARB moved confidently into further education and training.  

Work experience forms an important part of our curriculum, and we are proud of the positive feedback received from local companies. Their willingness to support our students reflects the strong reputation of our ARB and the positive contribution our learners make within the community.

Policy and SEN Information Report

Please visit our school policy page here for the SEN Policy at Penryn College.

• SEN Information Report

Adaptive Teaching and Learning Sheets

• Supporting Students with ACE
• Supporting Students with ASD
• Supporting Students with ADHD
• Supporting Students with Dyslexia
• Supporting Students with a Hearing Impairment 

Local SEND offer, early identification, ARB Timetable and Learning Passport

• Penryn College Local SEND Offer
• Example ARB Timetable
• Example Learning Passport
• Early Identification Flowchart