Special Educational Needs
Ordinarily Available Provision
In UK primary schools, Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP) refers to the resources, strategies, and support that every mainstream school is expected to provide for all pupils, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
It is essentially the "baseline" of what a school can and should do using its standard budget and staff, without needing extra external funding or a formal diagnosis like an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
The Core Principles
OAP is built on the idea of Quality First Teaching (QFT). The goal is to make the classroom inclusive enough that most children can thrive through standard adaptations.
- Support is "needs-led." If a child struggles with reading or social cues, the school provides support based on that need immediately, rather than waiting for a medical professional to label it.
- These interventions are paid for out of the school's "notional SEND budget"—the money they receive to support all learners.
- Schools use a cycle called Assess, Plan, Do, Review, known as the The Graduated Response, to see if the ordinarily available support is working or if the child needs more specialised help.
Ordinarily Available Provision Information
Please see Kingston's (AfC) local offer on their website for further information about what you can expect in terms of support for SEND pupils: Kingston's (AfC) local offer
Information Poster and Leaflets about Kingston's local Offer for families.
Information Leaflet about a service to provide support and advice for families with new Education Health and Care Plan requests or with issues arising from a transfer between a statement and an Education, Health and Care Plan.
Information leaflet about Send Family Voices, a volunteer parent-led charity who provide support to families of children with disabilities.
SEND
Special educational needs and/or disability
We want every child to achieve their best and get the most out of their education.
The new SEND legislation, September 2014, requires schools to publish details of the support available for children and young people with SEND. This is called the local offer.
Please click on the links below for further information: