Universally Available Provision

Supporting children and young people who have additional needs in mainstream schools

Updated December 2024

Newcastle’s vision is that all learners have the best start in life and are supported through highly effective and inclusive educational provision. This document describes the provision that should be normally available across all mainstream schools and settings. The voice of the individual child/young person must be at the heart of all provision. This will be captured within SEND support plans. 

This document has been produced in collaboration with representatives from:

There is also a PDF version of this Universally Available Provision which you can view. 

Code of Practice, DfE, 2015

A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if they: 

  • have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age; or 
  • have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post-16 institutions 

A child under compulsory school age has special educational needs if they fall within the definition at (a) or (b) above or would so do if special educational provision was not made for them.

Equality Act 2010 

Schools also have a range of duties under the Equality Act 2010. 

Key points: 

  • The Equality Act 2010 provides a single source of discrimination law
  • The Act requires that schools must not unlawfully discriminate against learners because of their sex, race, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation.
  • The Act extends the reasonable adjustment duty to require schools to provide auxiliary aids and services to disabled learners or those with additional educational needs.
Information from https://childrenandfamiliesnewcastle.org.uk/
Printed on June 27th 2026
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