SEND
At Cobham Free School, all students, whatever their needs or abilities, are valued and encouraged to develop confidence in themselves as learners and to have high aspirations. Support is provided for students who are identified as requiring additional or different provision to help them make progress.
We believe that all teachers need to have training and expertise in Special Educational Needs and Disability. We also promote an ethos of positive partnership between our staff and the parents/carers of our young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Our SEND Team of specialist part-time teaching staff and Learning Support Assistants work alongside colleagues and parents/carers in and out of the classroom in order to overcome barriers to learning and progress.
Senior SEND Statement
High Quality Teaching and Provision
High Quality Teaching serves as the foundation of our support for all pupils, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our subject specialist teachers are responsible for the progress of every student, delivering a broad and ambitious curriculum through adaptive teaching strategies and appropriate reasonable adjustments.
To ensure students with SEND can access learning successfully within the main classroom, our Ordinarily Available Provision embeds:
- Adaptive Pedagogy: Standardised use of scaffolded tasks, targeted modelling, visual supports, and assistive resources tailored to individual needs.
- Technology-Enhanced Learning: Digital tools, including 1:1 Chromebook provision for all pupils from Year 7 onwards, to promote independent learning.
- Ongoing Assessment: Regular tracking to identify emerging needs early and implement immediate adjustments that remove barriers to learning.
Targeted Interventions (The Graduated Approach)
When a student requires support beyond standard classroom provision, we implement targeted, evidence-based interventions using a graduated approach. These targeted frameworks are monitored and reviewed regularly to measure their impact:
- Academic & Literacy Support: Structured reading fluency and comprehension programs, targeted phonics intervention for core reading barriers, and tailored numeracy support.
- Pastoral & Emotional Wellbeing: Focused nurture and wellbeing support integrated with our wider pastoral systems.
Specialist Support & External Services
For students who require provision beyond group interventions, we coordinate highly personalised strategies to ensure their continued progress. This includes integrating advice from external specialists, deploying bespoke resources, and making specific curriculum adaptations.
Emotional health is further sustained through our dedicated internal pastoral networks, with direct access to the Mental Health Support Team (MHST) and external specialist services whenever necessary.
Transition & Preparation for Adulthood
We are committed to smooth educational transitions at every stage of a student's journey:
- Primary to Secondary Transition: We collaborate closely with feeder primary schools and external agencies to establish planned transition arrangements—such as enhanced visits and family consultations—ensuring new Year 7 students feel confident and supported.
- Preparation for Adulthood: Beginning in Year 9, our framework expands to focus on long-term independence, higher education, and career pathways. We work alongside students and their families to build essential life skills, foster personal aspirations, and guide decisions for post-16 education, training, and employment.
Junior SEND Statement
Support strategies and interventions vary across the key stages and are tailored to meet the needs of students identified as needing support:
Wave 1’: full access to the National Curriculum suitably differentiated to take account of each individual’s needs and taught in classes by subject specialist teachers.
‘Wave 2’: small group literacy and numeracy teaching is offered to students who are not meeting their age-related expected levels of progress in reading and spelling and principle numeracy (includes a particular focus on new children and Year 7 joiners).
‘Wave 3’: personalised literacy/numeracy teaching is offered to pupils if their literacy and numeracy levels are a significant barrier to learning.
In-class support from Learning Support Assistants with expertise in early years, Key Stages, curriculum subjects and individual needs.
Links with local parents' support groups
Support for transition from primary school including special taster activities at the Senior School for Year 6 children, visits to the primary and nursery schools by the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENDCo) where necessary, and individualised support for Year 6 Students needing extra transition support.
Further information
For further information, see the CFS SEND Policy and SEND Information Report in Policies.
To contact our SEND team, click the links here:
