Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) and SEN Units Policy 2025

All children accessing the Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) and Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Unit will have an Education, Health and Care plan.  

Parents and carers are able to express a preference for their child to access a place within a particular ARP and SEND Unit; however, the council reserves the right to consult with all provisions of this type, if deemed appropriate, for example, if a child has cognition and learning needs, it may be that a number of such provisions are consulted with. Prior to this, the council's SEND Multi Agency Panel must agree that the child meets the criteria for a place, in line with this policy guidance. 

The council's SEND Placements and Governance Service area will oversee the admissions to and exits from the ARP and SEND Units. The new role of Placement Coordinator - Resourced Provision would be the first point of contact for schools and parents, whilst the allocation and admissions process is ongoing. This role is dedicated to monitoring and oversight of the processes relating to ARP and SEND Units. 

Schools will be approached to take a child into the provision, by way of formal consultation with the Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan and appendices in line with the Children and Families Act 2014. Criteria relating to the needs of the child and the provision they require are available later in this guidance. Children and young people placed in the ARP and SEND Unit must be suitable to attend the provision, and this will be mutually agreed by the school and the SEND Service before a placement is agreed.  

The council reserve the right to name an alternative placement in Section I of a child's EHC Plan if a placement in an ARP and SEND Unit is unsuitable to meet their special educational needs, age, aptitude or ability of the child and young person and both the school and council feel they are unsuitable for the provision or their needs do not align with the specified policy. This is to ensure that we have the right children in the most suitable school places to meet their special educational needs, and that they are able to access the provision they require. 

Travel assistance may be available for a child to access an ARP and SEND Unit place if the statutory guidance and criteria for transport assistance are met. This will be discussed with parents as part of the admissions process.