Most children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) attend a mainstream school. There are a small number of learners with severe and/or complex learning difficulties who attend a more specialist provision. These learners will usually have an Education Health and Care (EHC) Plan.
In Cornwall there are several different types of state funded specialist provision for learners with SEND.
These include:
- Area Resource Bases
- Special Schools
Area Resource Bases
Some children and young people with SEND attend Area Resource Bases (ARB). These bases are hosted by 23 schools across Cornwall. ARBs support pupils with more complex needs.
Pupils in ARBs benefit from a more individually-tailored, specialist provision. This can include small group work and access to specialist resources and services. One of the many strengths of ARBs is that pupils can still access parts of the mainstream school, as well as having more specialist support. As ARBs are spread across Cornwall, it means it is more likely that children and young people can attend a school which is in, or near to, their home town or area. This means they can learn alongside their friends and peers.
Cornwall’s ARBs are located at the following Primary and Secondary Schools:
Primary Schools with ARBs
- Beacon ACE Academy, Bodmin
- Bude Junior School
- Burraton School, Saltash
- Camelford School
- Delaware School
- Falmouth Primary Academy
- Mount Charles, St Austell
- Penryn Primary Academy
- Pensans Primary School, Penzance
- St Stephen’s Community Academy, Launceston
- Tregolls School, Truro
- Trevithick School, Camborne
Secondary Schools with ARBs
- Bodmin Academy (Greenfields)
- Brannel School, St Stephen, St Austell
- Budehaven Community School (The ARBour)
- Cape Cornwall School (Kites)
- Hayle Academy
- Launceston College (Castle Unit)
- Liskeard School and Community College
- Penryn Community College
- Redruth School (due to open during 2024)
- Richard Lander School
- Saltash Community School
Special School Provision
Special schools offer provision for children with long-term complex needs. There are several special schools in Cornwall. A child can be considered for a place from 3 years old once they have an Education, Health and Care Plan.
Special Partnership Trust
The Special Partnership Trust (SPT) is made up of ten special schools and ARBs in the South West. The Trust aims to inspire every young person to thrive and flourish. Their goal is to prepare young people for the future. They want to foster innovation, generate excitement, and champion opportunities.
The SPT also supports mainstream schools. They work with to ensure staff are even better equipped to further meet the needs of their pupils.
Cornwall Council Funding
We fund places at four community special schools in Cornwall:
- Curnow School is in Redruth. It caters for learners aged 3-19 years with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties. The school admits learners from Mid, West and North Cornwall
- Doubletrees School is in St Blazey Gate, near St Austell. It's learners are between the ages of 2-19 years with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties. It takes in learners from the North and East of Cornwall, from Truro across to the Plymouth / Devon border, including the north coast of Cornwall
- Nancealverne School is in Penzance. It caters for learners aged 2-19 who have severe, profound and complex learning difficulties. It takes in learners from the south west of Cornwall
- Pencalenick School is near Truro. It's learners are from Year 7 to Year 11 who have complex learning difficulties, associated anxieties and social needs. The catchment area is the whole of Cornwall.
Visit the Special Partnership Trust
Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS)
EOTAS stands for Education Otherwise than At School. It is education provision to:
- meet specific needs of pupils who hold an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and
- whose needs, identified by appropriate professionals, cannot be met within any educational institutions
