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This website is only one part of the Local Offer. We also have a directory listing SEND-specific services. Visit our directory at 1space.eastsussex.gov.uk/localoffer

Expectations on All Settings (Universally Available Provision)

An image highlighting life in school. On the left is a child sat at a classroom desk. On the right is two children smiling and high fiving.

Universally Available Provision (UAP)

The UAP forms the core set of inclusive teaching and support strategies offered to every child. This includes children with and without Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). It applies across all education settings, such as:

Levels of support covered include:

The UAP also covers expectations and strategies about:

To find out more, view the Universally Available Provision (May 2026) PDF.

Broad Areas of Need

All schools in England follow the guidance in the Department of Education’s SEND Code of Practice. The code describes four broad areas of need. They give an overview of the range of needs school support. The four areas of need are:

To find out more, read the SEND Code of Practice PDF.

Communication and Interaction

Children and Young People (CYP) with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) have difficulty in communicating with others. This may be because they have difficulty:

The profile for every child with SLCN is different and their needs may change over time. They may have difficulty with one, some or all the different aspects of SLCN at different times of their lives.

CYP with Autism are likely to have particular difficulties with social interaction. They may also experience difficulties with language, communication and imagination. This can impact on how they relate to others.

Cognition and Learning

CYP may need support for learning difficulties when they learn at a slower pace than their peers. This is the case even with appropriate differentiation. 

Learning difficulties cover a wide range of needs, including:

This is where CYP are likely to need support in all areas of the curriculum. They may have associated difficulties with mobility and communication. Some CYP may have profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD). This is where they are likely to have:

Specific learning difficulties (SpLD), affect one or more specific aspects of learning. This encompasses a range of conditions such as:

Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMH)

CYP may experience a wide range of social and emotional difficulties. These can manifest themselves in many ways. These may include:

These behaviours may reflect underlying mental health difficulties such as:

Other CYP may have disorders such as:

Schools and colleges should have clear processes to support CYP. This includes how they will manage the effect of any disruptive behaviour. This is to ensure it does not adversely affect other pupils.

You can visit our directory on 1Space, to find SEMH support:

Sensory and / or Physical Needs

Some CYP need special educational provision. This may be because their disability makes it difficult for them to use educational facilities. These difficulties can be age related and may fluctuate over time. CYP may need specialist support and equipment to access learning or habilitation support. This is if they have a:

Vision Impairment (VI)

MSI is a combination of vision and hearing difficulties.

Some CYP with a physical disability need extra, ongoing support and equipment. This will allow them to access all the opportunities available to their peers.

You can find out what support there is for the broad areas of need on our UAP document:

Additional Help and Support

Amaze SENDIASS

Amaze SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service) are a local charity. They offer free, independent, and impartial advice for all matters relating to SEND. Contact Amaze SENDIASS by:

Visit the Amaze SENDIASS web page.

East Sussex Local Offer directory of services

You can visit our SEND-specific online directory, hosted on East Sussex 1Space. The directory lists many different services both throughout the county and online. Services cover many topics, including:

Visit the East Sussex Local Offer directory.

NHS - Health A to Z

The East Sussex Local Offer aims to provide as much information as possible. There may be some conditions that aren't covered in thorough detail. The NHS website has pages that list all conditions. These pages provide information and advice on how to get extra support:

Visit the NHS Health A to Z web page.

Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms

We explain some of the terms used on this website on our page, Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms.

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