The Buckinghamshire SEND Team is currently collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders to update the 2019 Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP) guidance.

This review follows a consultation with children and young people (CYP), parents and carers, education settings, health service providers, and other local partners. Feedback is also being actively sought through the SENDCo Network Liaison Groups and Headteachers' meetings.

Universal Provision

The new Buckinghamshire Universal Provision document, currently in draft format, replaces Ordinarily Available Provision and reflects current best practices for meeting the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across Buckinghamshire. It is being developed to ensure that all mainstream settings have access to clear, consistent, and inclusive guidance.

The updated guidance will:

• set out clear expectations for the use of the Graduated Approach
• define universally available support for all CYP with SEND, including those without an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
• promote a neuro-affirmative ethos and language, ensuring that support is respectful, inclusive, and strengths-based
• reflect on Ofsted’s latest guidance on inclusion, incorporating best practice recommendations for inclusive school environments
• prepare schools and settings for the outcomes of the Government’s SEND review, supporting readiness for future statutory changes

This aims to strengthen consistency across the county, assisting schools and settings to embed inclusive practice.

The Universal Provision reflects our shared commitment to inclusive education.

View the Universal Provision draft [PDF 1,226KB].

Note: This document may not be accessible to all, but once approved, it will be converted to accessible web pages.