Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinators (SENDCO)

Mrs Lou Darvid   

ldarvid@rivieraet.co.uk   

Mrs Kathryn Waterson  (MATERNITY LEAVE)

kwaterson@rivieraet.co.uk                                                                                                                  

Shiphay Learning Academy | Exe Hill | Torquay | Devon | TQ2 7NF

Tel:      01803 613556

What is Special Educational Needs (SEN)?

All pupils have individual interests, needs, strengths and next steps. Usually, in a mainstream school, these are met through Quality First Teaching by the class teacher so that each child makes progress towards achieving Age Related Expectations. A child or young person has a SEN if they have a learning difficulty or disability which is a barrier to learning and calls for special educational provision to be made for them.

How do I find out about the support, provision and progress of my child?

All teachers are teachers of pupils with special educational needs and the Class Teacher, who knows the child best, should be the first port of call for parents. In addition, the SENDCO can provide support about a child’s needs, progress and support. Each term, parents and the class teacher jointly create an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) so that the child’s progress and support is reviewed and next steps discussed and planned.

What is the role of the SENDCO?

A SENDCO oversees and coordinates the support, intervention, provision and progress of all pupils on the SEN register. This includes:

• Advice and support for staff and parents

• Observations and diagnostic assessments

• Monitoring progress of pupils with SEND

• Referrals to other agencies for advice

• Providing information and reports for other agencies

• Record keeping

• Training and professional development

• Additional resources

• Transition to or from school to another setting

• SEND policy and Local Offer

How do I find out about the support available in school and within Torbay?

See key documents below:

• Shiphay’s Local Offer describes the support for pupils with SEND at Shiphay.

• The SEND policy describes how pupils with SEND are identified, monitored and supported in school

• The SEND Information Report summarises the arrangements and support for pupils with SEND

• Torbay Council’s SEND website provides support, guidance and information for parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Torbay: http://www.torbay.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/send/

• SENDIASS Torbay provides free information, advice and support for parents of children and young people with SEND: http://sendiasstorbay.org.uk/

Please click the links below for details of Shiphay's SEND policies:

Please email:  clerk@rivieraet.co.uk   if you would like to request any of the policies in a different format.

Torbay Links

Torbay Council SEND: Local Area Inspection

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have this morning informed us they are today (3rd March 2025) beginning their three-week inspection of Torbay’s SEND local area.

Up to ten inspectors will be examining the services that the Torbay local area provides to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

This is a local area inspection which means the SEND partnership is wholly accountable for its performance. 

Parents/carers are able to complete a survey if they wish - links are included in the document below.  Surveys are open until 9am on Tuesday 11 March 2025.