ARC SEN Unit

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

SENDCo: Mrs Allen

ARC teacher: Mrs Donohue

HLTAs: Miss Mundy & Miss Shields

ARC Support: Miss Doyle, Miss Solomon

Please click the images above to see our individual class pages.

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.

Our ARC Curriculum – The Equals Pathways

At Our Lady and St Swithin’s SEN Unit (ARC), we recognise that every child is unique and learns in different ways. We follow the Equals curriculum approach, using Pre-Formal, Semi-Formal and Formal pathways to ensure that learning is appropriate, meaningful and ambitious for each pupil.

The pathways are flexible and are matched to each child’s developmental level, strengths and individual needs. A pupil may access different approaches across different areas of their learning.

Pre-Formal Pathway

The Pre-Formal Pathway is highly personalised and supports pupils who are at the earliest stages of development. Learning focuses on engagement, communication, interaction, sensory exploration, physical development and emotional wellbeing.

What might learning look like?
A pupil may explore sensory materials, respond to familiar people or sounds, anticipate a favourite activity, make a choice using eye gaze, gesture or movement, take turns in an interaction, or communicate that they would like an activity to continue.

Small steps are important achievements, and staff carefully observe and celebrate each pupil’s individual progress.

Semi-Formal Pathway

The Semi-Formal Pathway supports pupils who are developing their communication, understanding and independence. Learning is practical, purposeful and connected to real-life experiences.

What might learning look like?
A pupil may use symbols, signs or words to communicate; count objects during a practical activity; follow a visual timetable; take part in cooking or shopping activities; recognise important words and symbols; develop friendships; or practise dressing, preparing food and other independence skills.

Literacy and numeracy are taught in meaningful contexts so that pupils can use their skills in everyday life.

Formal Pathway

The Formal Pathway supports pupils who are ready to access more subject-based learning, with appropriate links to the National Curriculum. Teaching is carefully differentiated and adapted to ensure pupils can participate successfully.

What might learning look like?
A pupil may develop reading and writing skills, solve mathematical problems, carry out practical science activities, explore topics across the wider curriculum and apply their learning in different situations.

Pupils continue to receive the individual support they need, which may include visual resources, communication support, practical activities, repetition and additional processing time.

The Right Pathway for Every Child

Our pathways are not fixed labels. Children develop in different ways and may benefit from different approaches across their learning.

Across all three pathways, our aim is to provide a meaningful, inclusive and ambitious curriculum that helps every pupil to communicate, develop independence, build relationships, experience success and achieve their individual potential.

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

STAY CONNECTED – ARC Provision Facebook Page

We also share updates, photos, and fun activities on our ARC Provision Facebook page.

To make sure you never miss out:

• Follow the page

• Turn on notifications

• Check in regularly to see what our pupils have been getting up to!

• Send us a message and we can stay connected if you have any questions.