Wiltshire Ordinarily Available Provision for All Learners (OPAL)

Last updated: September 2023

What is OPAL? 

OPAL is a resource which outlines the provision and support that should ordinarily be available for children and young people in education settings, such as early years, schools and colleges.

Because:

• education setting would value guidance on how they can expect to held to account, and how they can deliver based on best practice
• all children and young people can thrive more in an inclusive culture
• parents and carers can understand a consistent approach easier

In practice, our OPAL will:

• promote a vision for a more inclusive system, firmly based on high standards and quality first teaching (QFT) for all
• index and link to existing best practice documentation
• define core standards and provide tools for learning to meet a consistent minimum effort
• provide positive, celebratory examples of best practice in the Wiltshire context
• contain supportive resources to promote practitioner development
• provide a forum for collaborative learning and improvement, including a space for practitioners to share best practice
• support provision of tools and skills to help children and young people to integrate in communities
• support our communities to be as inclusive as possible

Wiltshire is a needs led area:

This means that any provision or support will be tailored to the individual's needs, and that a diagnosis is not required to access support in schools and settings. 

Terminology used in this document we will refer to: 

• children and young people as CYP
• adults who support CYP as staff
• parents of children and young people with SEND as parent carers
• educational placements including early years provision, schools and colleges as settings 
• special educational needs and/or disabilities as SEND

For additional help with terms and phrases visit: https://localoffer.wiltshire.gov.uk/article/4285/Jargon-Buster

For details of services and support visit: https://localoffer.wiltshire.gov.uk/