Reflections from the OAP Co-Production Launch
On January 20, 2025, Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) hosted the Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP) Co-Production Launch, bringing together schools, education and health professionals, PaCC, and key stakeholders to shape the future of inclusion in schools.
The event, part of the SEND & Alternative Provision (AP) Change Programme, focused on how mainstream schools can better meet the needs of children and young people with SEND, particularly those without an education, health and care plan (EHCP).
The event featured a keynote speech by Philippa Stobbs OBE, a respected figure in SEND policy and practice, who provided invaluable insight into Ordinarily Available Provision and its role in supporting inclusive education. She emphasised that OAP is not just about meeting statutory requirements but about embedding a culture of high-quality, inclusive support across all schools. Her speech reinforced the importance of clear expectations, consistency across schools, and genuine co-production with families.
You can read two recent articles that Philippa wrote for Special Needs Jungle about OAP here:
OAP for SEND friend or foe?
OAP what does good look like?
There was a focus on the ‘Principles of Belonging’, co-designed through extensive consultation with children, parents, educators, and health professionals. These principles emphasise that all children should feel heard, safe, accepted, and supported to grow and learn. By embedding these values in schools, Brighton & Hove aims to minimise barriers and enhance accessibility for neurodivergent and disabled students.
Attendees explored the role of OAP and how it will help create clearer and more consistent support for children with SEND in mainstream schools without complicated processes getting in the way. Discussions highlighted the need for clearer guidance, stronger local partnerships, and improved access to specialist resources within mainstream settings.
This event reaffirmed that inclusive education is everyone’s responsibility.
PaCC will keep parent carers up to date with this area of work and give details of how they can become involved as the OAP guidance is created.