Senior Inclusion and Belonging
At Cobham Free School, every child is known, valued and belongs. Our Senior Department is built on the belief that all pupils - whatever their starting point, background or need - should feel safe, be included, access every lesson and play a full part in the life of our school. This is not something we do for some pupils; it is how we work with all of them.
Pupils learn best when they feel they belong. We know our pupils as individuals, and we expect and support every one of them to access a challenging, ambitious curriculum. As students move through the senior department, our provision focuses on developing independence, strengthening self-advocacy and equipping pupils with the skills they need for their next phase of education.
Needs are identified early through structured transition processes, including Year 6 reviews, liaison with external primary schools for new admissions and baseline assessments. This gives us a clear understanding of each pupil's profile from the outset. Pupils and families are partners in this: their perspectives shape provision and inform ongoing review.
Adaptive, inclusive teaching is our first response to every need. Pupils study the full range of subjects, including languages and the arts, and learn alongside their peers in the classroom as a matter of course. Teachers receive regular training from our own SEN team and from external specialists. Where more is needed, this may include mentoring, short-term booster classes or specialist input from external agencies. Access arrangements are carefully planned and reviewed so that every pupil can demonstrate what they know.
Feeling safe comes first. Our pastoral systems provide structured support for pupils who may need additional help with emotional regulation, social communication or wellbeing. ELSA sessions, counselling and music therapy are available where appropriate, and we work closely with the Mindworks mental health support team, offering sessions in or out of school as needed. Every pupil has trusted adults they can go to, and we act on what pupils tell us.
Pupils with SEND take a full part in the wider life of the school - trips, clubs, leadership roles, performances, extra-curricular activities and residentials - with adjustments made so that access is equitable, not just theoretically available. Our facilities, including lifts, accessible toilets and Evac chairs, support pupils with physical disabilities to participate fully in daily school routines.
Belonging means that every pupil can be themselves. We celebrate the diversity of our community, challenge discrimination and unkindness wherever we find it, and expect pupils to look after one another. Pupil voice is active and listened to, and pupils help shape the culture of the school.
