ARC Enhanced Provision

ARC Enhanced Provision in Our Lady & St Swithin’s Catholic Primary School

SENDCo: Mrs Allen

ARC Lead: Mr Lawrenson

ARC Teachers: Miss Kelly, Mrs Whelan, Mrs Donohue & Mrs Allen

ARC Support: Miss Doyle, Miss Mundy, Miss Shields, Miss Solomon and Miss Pert (AM)

Our Lady and St Swithin’s ARC Enhanced Provision is a 20-place specialist setting maintained by Liverpool Local Authority, with places allocated through the SEN Team for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The provision supports children with cognition, learning, and communication needs within a nurturing and structured environment. We offer highly personalised learning pathways—Pre-Formal, Semi-Formal, and Formal—designed to meet individual abilities and EHCP outcomes. From September, we have implemented the Equals Curriculum for ARC 1 and ARC 2D, which provides a thematic, life-skills-focused approach tailored for pupils with complex needs, ensuring learning is meaningful, engaging, and aligned with long-term developmental goals.

For more information about the Equals Curriculum please click the links at the bottom of the page.

Learning in the ARC is delivered through multi-sensory approaches that make education accessible and engaging for all pupils. Strategies include the use of Now/Next boards, and depending on the child’s level, visuals/objects of reference, relevant photographs, or visuals to support understanding and communication. We also use interactive and therapeutic strategies such as Intensive Interaction sessions and Bucket Therapy to develop attention, communication, and engagement skills in a motivating way. In addition, pupils access specialist Speech and Language interventions, including direct therapy sessions, communication support using visuals and symbols, and targeted small-group activities to develop expressive and receptive language skills.

Pupils benefit from these highly structured, responsive teaching methods alongside therapeutic interventions such as Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy, and emotional regulation strategies such as Zones of Regulation. Our experienced team works in close partnership with families and external professionals to ensure holistic development, while enrichment opportunities and carefully planned inclusion experiences promote confidence, independence, and engagement in school life. At the heart of our provision is a commitment to celebrating every child and empowering them to achieve their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally.

Uniform: 

At Our Lady and St Swithin’s, we recognise that some pupils within the ARC Enhanced Provision have additional sensory needs which can make wearing a full school uniform challenging and uncomfortable. While our preference is for all children to wear full school uniform, we adopt a relaxed approach for pupils in the ARC to ensure their comfort and wellbeing throughout the school day.

Where adaptations are necessary, these will be agreed in consultation with families and tailored to each child’s needs. This may include adjustments such as softer fabrics, alternative trousers or skirts, or the use of sensory-friendly clothing items. However, it is important that all uniform items worn include the school badge, so that pupils remain part of the wider school community and feel a sense of belonging.

This flexible approach helps us to maintain high standards while prioritising the individual needs of our pupils, ensuring they feel comfortable, confident, and ready to learn.

Link to apply for transport https://apps.liverpool.gov.uk/lccforms/forms/home-to-school-transport-for-pupils-with-a-send

Liverpool City Council

Please click the buttons below to see our individual class pages.