Some learners need extra help with their learning. A learner is considered to have SEND if they:  

• Find learning harder than most learners their age, or 

• Have a disability that makes it difficult to access school life in the same way as others. 

There are four main areas of need we support: 

1. Communication & Interaction (C&I) – speech, language, and social communication needs

2. Cognition & Learning (C&L) – difficulties with thinking, understanding, or learning, including dyslexia and dyscalculia

3. Social, Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH) – challenges with emotions, behaviour, or mental health

4. Sensory and/or Physical Needs – hearing, vision, physical, or sensory processing difficulties

All learners benefit from high-quality teaching in the classroom. Staff use Learning and Teaching Chronicles to guide how we teach.  

Alongside this, we use the Adaptive Teaching Toolkit (ATT). This breaks teaching down even further, giving staff practical strategies to adapt lessons for learners who might need extra support. For example, breaking down instructions, using visuals, or changing resources so they are easier to access. 

To support this, every staff member also has access to the Curate and Narrate document. This sets out the obstacles to learning for identified learners and highlights the strategies that work best for them. It makes sure that staff know how to put the right adaptations in place, so learners feel included and able to succeed in class. 

Every learner with SEND has a Student Success Plan. We make this together with the learner, parents and carers, and we review it each term. 

Together, the Chronicles, ATT and Curate and Narrate make sure that teaching is consistent, inclusive, and flexible, meeting the needs of every learner. 

The ARC (Academic Recovery Centre) is a specialist support provision at Brannel School, designed to support students with additional needs, including SEND, who may require adjustments to help them access learning successfully.

The ARC provides a calm, low-stimulus environment where students can regulate, feel safe, and continue their learning in a way that meets their individual needs. It supports students who may find busy classrooms or unstructured times challenging and helps them remain engaged with education in a positive and supportive way.

Who can access the ARC?

Students may use the ARC as part of a planned package of support, including those:

• With identified SEND or additional needs
• Requiring support with emotional regulation or sensory needs
• Feeling overwhelmed or experiencing heightened anxiety
• Following a reduced or flexible timetable
• With specific medical or wellbeing needs
• Receiving short-term or bespoke interventions
• Requiring a quieter space during break or lunchtime
• Struggling to work in busy environments, including the cover room

Access to the ARC is always planned and purposeful. Parents and staff are informed of these arrangements, and use of the ARC is reviewed regularly.

Break and Lunchtime Support

The ARC may also be used during break and lunchtime to support students who find these periods difficult. Students may eat their lunch in the ARC and are expected to clear away afterwards. Laptops and iPads are not permitted at these times, as we encourage appropriate social interaction. Games and quiet activities are available.

The ARC forms part of Brannel School’s commitment to inclusive practice, reasonable adjustments, and ensuring all students feel supported, regulated, and ready to learn.

We believe parents and carers are experts on their children and we work together by combining their knowledge with our professional expertise. 

Young carers are children and young people who often take on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities for a family member due to illness, disability, mental health problems or an addiction. The tasks undertaken can vary according to the nature of the illness or disability, the level and frequency of need for care and the structure of the family as a whole.

A young carer may do some or all of the following:

• Practical tasks, such as cooking, housework and shopping.
• Physical care, such as lifting, helping a parent on stairs or with physiotherapy.
• Personal care, such as dressing, washing, helping with toileting needs.
• Managing the family budget, collecting benefits and prescriptions.
• Administering medication.
• Looking after younger siblings.
• Emotional support.
• Interpreting, due to a hearing or speech impairment or because English is not the family’s first language.

Some young carers may undertake high levels of care, whereas for others it may be frequent low levels of care. Either can impact heavily on a child or young person.

At Brannel School, we support young carers in a variety of ways. The Young Carers Policy confirms that we understand the issues of learners who have a caring role within the family.

Designated Link for Young Carers

Mrs Hunt is the designated Link for Young Carers, and she liaises with relevant staff, family and other outside agencies to provide help and support where required. Where appropriate, Brannel Young Carers are referred to Kernow Young Carers, through Barnardos, to enable additional support for the student outside of school.

Mrs Hunt can be contacted by emailing chunt@brannel.celtrust.org

Drop-in Support Sessions

Regular drop-in sessions take place and all young carers are welcome, including those who have never attended before and wish to seek out support. 

Further Information

Further information can be found in the Kernow Young Carers section of the Barnardos website.

Every local authority must publish a SEND Local Offer that needs to be clear, comprehensive, and accessible for everyone to use.

 The Local Offer should include information on:

• other or alternative educational provision
• preparing for adulthood and independent living
• health provision
• social care provision
• SEND service
• leisure
• travel
• support and guidance

The SEND Local Offer is co-produced with those who use these services, including parent carers, young people, and other stakeholders. Feedback is actively encouraged and considered as part of ongoing service development in our commitment to deliver high-quality SEND services across Cornwall and can be found on the following webpage: Family Information Service Cornwall

Throughout Cornwall there are activities and services to support young people with SEND and these can be found following the SEND Activities and Services link  Synergy - Search By Route

Cornwall County Council provide regular updates to parents, carers and young people via their website - SEND Updates for Parents, Carers and Young People - Cornwall Council

You can subscribe to receive the Cornwall County Council SEND updates here - Parent / carers sign up form