Discussion about the potential for new development at Fielding in partnership with Ealing

Ealing Council is committed to further developing inclusive education for all pupils in Ealing.  School leaders and the Governing Body of Fielding recognise this need and welcome the development.

 

Some pupils who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to meet their special educational needs require a higher level of support than can be provided by their local mainstream primary school.  However, their needs are not so complex or severe that a place at a special school is appropriate either.  To meet this need, the local authority maintains a range of Additionally Resourced Provisions (ARPs) and units at mainstream schools.

 

The Council invited schools to consider developing an ARP for primary age children who have an EHCP with needs on the autistic spectrum or related speech, language and communication needs. This was discussed by the Governing Body which expressed an interest in developing an ARP at Fielding because we:

• want all of our pupils to mix with a wide range of children, where they learn to respect, tolerate and empathise with others, so that they are well placed to confidently live in modern Britain;  
• have a strong sense of moral purpose and want to improve opportunities for this group of pupils;
• have a strong, successful track record of meeting the needs of pupils with special educational needs;
• aim to build skills and knowledge of staff to better meet needs of our pupils who do not reach the threshold for an EHCP but have a higher level of need on the autistic spectrum, our largest group of pupils with special needs at Fielding;
• need access to staff, specialists and facilities on site to better meet the needs of our own pupils on the autistic spectrum or speech, language and communication needs.  

 

Typical features of an ARP at a mainstream school include:

• an extension, or modification of existing rooms, to provide new classrooms and other spaces, including a sensory room, breakout spaces, meeting room, therapy room and toilets;
• integration of ARP pupils into the main school for a proportion of their day with support from ARP staff;
• a team of specialist teachers and support staff who are based in the ARP;
• teaching of an adapted curriculum to meet individual needs of pupils in the ARP;
• a limited number of places (up to 24) for primary age pupils who are organised into 2 or 3 classes;
• a separate admissions process, where pupils must have an EHCP with the ARP named as part of the plan;

 

The Council will decide where an additional ARP is located in Ealing according to its strategic needs.  Any decision will follow several rounds of informal and formal consultation to seek views from a range of stakeholders, including parents and staff.  Any new ARP is not expected to open before September 2021.

 

Further reading:

• Ealing SEND and inclusion strategy 2018-22