Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) and SEN Units Policy 2025
Consultation process
At the point of entry into the provision, all children must have a draft or final Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. If a child has an EHC Plan and has recently had an annual review, the EHC Plan must be updated with the contents of the review before consultation with the Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) and Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Unit takes place.
The Placement Coordinator for Resourced Provision, will share any consultations with settings. Schools will have fifteen calendar days to consider the documents and prepare a response to this in writing back to the Council. This should be prepared on the Council's consultation response proforma.
Parents will be informed of the decision within 1 to 2 days of it being received back from the school, and can request a copy of the response in writing if they wish.
Within the 15 days, the ARP and SEND Unit schools may wish to speak with the child's current setting or visit the child; however, this must be done by gaining the parent or carers consent directly and cannot impact the 15 day response. In exceptional circumstances, agreed by the Team Manager or Service Lead, SEND Placements and Governance, an extension to the 15 days may be given.
Whilst every effort will be made by the council to not send consultations during school holidays, there are times when this will be necessary and required, as The SEND Code of Practice 2015 does not allow for changes to the process within this time. During school holidays, it is expected that a response will be provided by the Headteacher or Principal of the ARP and SEND Unit School.
If a placement is agreed by the school and the Council, the Placement Coordinator will contact the parents to seek their views, liaising closely with colleagues in the placements team, current school and ARP and SEND Unit.
If the placement is agreed, the Placement Coordinator will support the parties to develop a mutually agreed transition plan into the setting, over a three week period. In exceptional circumstances when the child's needs require, a longer transition plan can be planned between the parties.
The ARP and SEND Unit will be named in Section I of the child's EHC Plan and will be reflected by the provision detailed in Section F upon admission.
