Manchester Primary Ordinarily Available Provision

What is primary ordinarily available provision?

The Manchester Primary Ordinarily Available Provision document describes the range of support, strategies, and activities, that easily available in schools, to children with additional needs without the need for a formal diagnosis or specialist support: what is available as part of the basic good practice in the school.  

 The overarching approach is one of inclusion: a good teacher teaches a child from wherever they are on their developmental journey, and this includes those who may have additional needs. What works for children with emerging and/or additional needs works for all children: Quality First Teaching.  

 This guidance has been developed in collaboration with a range of education and health professionals,(speech and language, occupational and physiotherapy), teachers, SENCOs Head Teachers, Manchester Parent Carer Forum, Parent Champions, Sensory Support Service, Lancasterian Outreach and Inclusion Service (LOIS), Bridgelea Outreach, RHOSEY, SEND IASS (Information Advice and Support Officers) and educational psychologists, and was the next step from the ALS (Action Learning Set) facilitated by Philippa Stobbs and Chris Webb from the Council for Disabled Children in 2019/20.  

 The document must be read in the context of the SEND (Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities) Code of Practice and the Statutory Framework. It sits alongside the Manchester Matching Provision to Need Tool and follows on from the EY Ordinarily Available Provision. Teachers and senior leaders are expected to use this document to support children with emerging and additional needs in their schools.  

 It describes the different types of support that should be available for all children across all primary phases. It is not an exhaustive list, but it provides samples of best practice while signposting to sources of further information and support. This guidance will be a valuable resource for parents and carers of children with additional needs. Essential supplementary sources of information are included at the end of the document. 

 Parents can seek free, independent, advice and support from a wider range of services including SENDIASS.