An ARP, more commonly known as an Additional Resourced Provision (ARP), is a unit located within a mainstream school. It is designed to support students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who require more intensive support than a typical mainstream classroom can provide.  

ARPs offer a structured environment with specialist staff while allowing students to remain integrated within a mainstream school community for part of the day.  

Key features of ARPs 

Specialised focus:

Each ARP focusses on a specific area of SEND. At Maylandsea Primary School, the ARP focusses on:

• Autism (Autistic Spectrum Disorder)

• Integrated learning:

Students in an ARP benefit from a balance of specialised and mainstream education. They will learn in a smaller, dedicated ARP classroom for targeted support. 

• Specialist staff:

The ARP at Maylandsea Primary School has employed teachers and support staff with training and expertise. As a provision, we also collaborate with external specialists, such as speech and language therapists. 

• Personalised curriculum:

The curriculum is tailored to the individual needs of each student, with careful tracking of progress toward goals outlined in their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). 

• Dedicated space:

The ARP often has their own purpose-built space with facilities, including classrooms, and a sensory room, to create a calm and supportive environment. 

• Admission criteria:

Students who attend The ARP at Maylandsea must have an EHCP, and placement is decided and funded by the local authority. The local authority panel determines if the ARP is the most suitable provision for the child's needs.