In Bristol, the concept of Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP) is vital in ensuring that students with additional needs can access mainstream education alongside their peers. The goal is to provide support and adjustments that allow all children to participate fully in school life regardless of their needs. However, while OAP is designed to be inclusive, it’s not without its criticisms. This post will explore how OAP is implemented in Bristol, its benefits, its challenges, and how families and professionals can access support through the Bristol Local Offer.
What is Ordinarily Available Provision?
Ordinarily Available Provision refers to the range of support that mainstream schools are expected to offer children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) without requiring a formal Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). This provision is intended to meet the needs of children who may require adjustments to succeed in a mainstream school environment but do not necessarily need the more intensive, individualised support provided through an EHCP.
Support within OAP can include:
- Differentiated teaching (modifying lesson plans and teaching methods to accommodate different learning needs)
- Teaching assistants (TAs) to offer additional support in the classroom
- Specialised resources or equipment (e.g., technology, sensory tools)
- Emotional or behavioural support, such as mentoring or counselling
- Adjustments to the school environment (quiet rooms, sensory spaces)
In Bristol, schools are committed to providing a wide range of support options to ensure inclusivity for all children, including those with conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning difficulties.
How OAP Works in Bristol
Bristol City Council has laid out clear expectations for how OAP should be delivered in mainstream schools. This ensures that schools take a proactive approach to meeting the needs of all students, particularly those with SEND. Bristol schools are encouraged to make reasonable adjustments based on students’ individual needs in order to thrive in an inclusive learning environment.
- Schools’ Flexibility: Each school has its own approach to providing OAP, with the flexibility to adapt its practices to suit the needs of its student body.
- Teacher and Staff Training: Bristol trains teachers and support staff to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to support students with SENDs.
- Clear Pathways for Support: There is a focus on early intervention and ensuring that any additional needs are identified early, allowing schools to implement support strategies as soon as required.
Parents and carers must understand what support is available locally and how to access it. The Bristol Local Offer provides clear guidance on the support services, programs, and resources available to families.
The Bristol Local Offer: A Key Resource
The Bristol Local Offer is an essential resource for families of children with SEND. It provides information about the services and support available across the city and outlines the types of support available to children and young people with SEND from birth to 25, including those with additional educational needs.
The Bristol Local Offer includes detailed information on OAP for school-age children, explaining what support is typically available in mainstream schools and how to access it. The Offer is designed to ensure parents and professionals understand the available resources, helping them navigate local services more efficiently.
The Bristol Local Offer website provides an online hub of information. It details different types of support, school resources, and specific information about OAP. The website also offers links to relevant services, advice for parents, and ways to get involved in shaping local SEND services.
To access detailed information on Ordinarily Available Provision in Bristol, visit their website for the Local Offer
Here, you will find an overview of the critical principles behind OAP and examples of typical support strategies schools are expected to offer. It’s an essential guide for parents and education professionals looking to understand the support structures for children with SEND in Bristol’s mainstream schools.
Benefits of Ordinarily Available Provision
There are numerous advantages to implementing OAP in Bristol’s schools:
- Inclusive Education OAP ensures that children with SEND can access education within mainstream schools, reducing the need for separate special education schools and promoting social integration.
- Early Intervention: Early identification of additional needs and providing appropriate support help prevent challenges from escalating and ensure that students can effectively access the curriculum.
- Cost-Effective Providing support within mainstream schools is often more cost-effective than placing children in specialist settings, making OAP a more sustainable approach.
- School Empowerment: OAP empowers schools to develop flexible, creative solutions to support students with various needs, promoting an inclusive school culture.
Challenges of Ordinarily Available Provision
Despite its benefits, OAP has faced criticism from various groups, including parents, teachers, and SEND advocates. Some of the key concerns include:
- Inconsistency in Provision Across Schools While some Bristol schools have the resources and expertise to implement effective OAP, others may need help providing the necessary support. Schools can vary significantly in their level of resources, staff training, and the quality of support offered. This inconsistency can create inequality, with some students receiving better support than others based purely on their school’s capacity.
- Pressure on Teaching Staff Teachers in mainstream schools often face the challenge of meeting the needs of diverse learners, including those with SEND. While OAP aims to help by providing additional support, many teachers report feeling overwhelmed by the demands of differentiating their lessons for students with a wide range of needs. There is concern that teachers may only sometimes have the training or time to provide the level of support required, particularly in larger classes or under-resourced schools.
- Insufficient Support for Students with Complex Needs OAP is often considered sufficient for students with mild to moderate needs but may not fully meet the needs of students with more complex conditions. For example, children with profound learning disabilities or mental health issues may require more specialised support than can be provided in a mainstream classroom, even with OAP. Some families feel that the availability of OAP is not enough for these students and that an EHCP may be necessary for more intensive support.
- Over-Reliance on Teaching Assistants (TAs) In many schools, teaching assistants support students with additional needs. However, there is concern that schools may rely too heavily on TAs rather than adequately trained, qualified teachers. While TAs can be invaluable, they may only sometimes have the expertise to support students with more complex needs. This over-reliance can lead to gaps in provision and support, particularly for students with more severe learning or behavioural challenges.
- Resource Gaps and Equity Issues Another criticism is that schools with fewer resources or lower funding levels may need help providing the necessary support through OAP. This can create disparities between schools, particularly in more disadvantaged areas, where support may be limited. As a result, children in these schools may receive a different level of assistance than those in better-funded schools, contributing to inequality in educational opportunities.
Moving Forward: Improving OAP in Bristol
To ensure that OAP is adequate and equitable, Bristol needs to focus on a few key areas:
- Standardising Provision: Bristol can work toward standardising school support to ensure a more consistent student experience, regardless of which school they attend. This can be done by offering more comprehensive training for teachers and support staff and ensuring all schools can access adequate resources.
- Addressing Resource Gaps: Bridging the funding and resource gap between schools will ensure all students receive the support they need. Additional funding and support should be directed to schools in areas with higher levels of disadvantage.
- Specialised Support for Complex Needs: While OAP works for many students, more consideration should be given to students with complex needs who may require more individualised or specialist support. This could involve ensuring a smoother transition to EHCPs when necessary and offering more resources for schools to meet the needs of these children.
- Engaging Parents and Professionals: As part of the Local Offer, ongoing dialogue between parents, schools, and professionals will be essential in identifying gaps in provision and finding solutions that work for individual students.
Ordinarily Available Provision is vital to Bristol’s strategy to create an inclusive, accessible education system for all children, including those with SEND. While the framework provides many benefits, it is essential to recognise the challenges and criticisms that come with it. By improving consistency, addressing resource gaps, and ensuring that all students, including those with complex needs, have the support they require, Bristol can continue to enhance the impact of OAP. The Bristol Local Offer remains a vital tool for families and professionals to navigate available services, and by working together, Bristol can continue striving towards truly inclusive education for all. If you need any more information or guidance, please contact us here for further information