Consultation - Bridgewater Primary School EY ARP proposal

I am writing to you regarding the Early Years (EY) Assessment Additional Resourced Provision (ARP) in Bridgewater Primary School.

The Early Years Assessment ARPs were created some years ago to allow for a statutory assessment of children with Special educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), within a maximum timescale of 2 years. 

The world of SEND has changed considerably since.  The short-term nature of a placement in an EY assessment ARP is no longer suitable. There is a lack of clear pathways for some of these children to suitable provision. 

An in-depth review of the Early Years Assessment ARP at Bridgewater Primary School has been conducted. We have worked with the senior leadership at Bridgewater Primary School, and it has been agreed that the EY Assessment ARP is no longer sustainable. 

We are therefore proposing to close the ARP at Bridgewater Primary School with effect from September 2025. Assessments will continue to be available from a child’s Early Years setting with support from the SENDOS Early Years Team. 

You are invited to respond to the consultation via the form. All responses must be received by Friday 17th January 2025. 

Please click here to download the response form.

If you would like to discuss the proposal in more detail at a mutually agreed time, please contact sendplaceplanning@newcastle.gov.uk or sam.robson@bridgewater.newcastle.sch.uk otherwise I look forward to receiving your response. 

Yours sincerely, 

Deanne Taylor

Head of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities