Spotlight on OEAP National Guidance

National Guidance
Spotlight on
guidance
OEAP National Guidance
4.4i Special Educational
Needs and Disabilities
Jake Wiid at EVOLVE Advice looks at the current guidance on planning visits
for children and young people with SEND
OEAP National Guidance 4.4i Special
Educational Needs and Disabilities
offers advice on how to plan your visits
to support inclusion for children and
young people with SEND.
PLANNING AHEAD
Decisions about how a young person with
SEND can best participate should involve a
wide range of people, the visit leader, SENCO,
parents, carers, support staff and the young
person. These conversations need to happen
well before the visit is finalised, not at the
last minute.
Think about accessibility when selecting a
destination, even before you know exactly
who will be coming. A preliminary visit is
particularly valuable, as it allows you to check
disabled access, understand the environment
and build confidence in your supervision
arrangements. If this is not feasible, many
providers or venues have 3D tours or a
teacher pack.
Always inform parents well in advance. They
are one of your most important sources of
information about how their child is likely to
respond in an unfamiliar setting and they
should be given every opportunity to share
that knowledge.
STAFFING AND COSTS
Supporting participants with SEND may
require additional staff. Any member of
staff assigned on a 1:1 basis should not be
counted within the overall supervision
ratios for the group. Staff should also have
the chance to raise any concerns about
supporting needs or behaviours before the
visit takes place.
Any additional costs arising from
reasonable adjustments, such as extra
staffing, must not be passed on to the
participant or their parents, or shared
across the group as part of non-voluntary
charges. These costs should be met from
establishment funds, external funding or
voluntary contributions.
Download the guidance at →oeapng.info
and ask your Educational Visits Adviser
for support with applying OEAP National
Guidance to your own context.
Image: PGL Beyond
See also: 3.2e Inclusion;
4.4d Medication; 4.4n
Mental Health; 4.4r
Participants with Autism
This publication is a general summary of guidance. It should not replace advice tailored to your specific circumstances.
THE EVC MAGAZINE – SUMMER 2026
9

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