Education Updates
"I've heard about enhanced pathways in some schools but I'm not sure what they are. Are they similar to resource bases? Can I apply for a place for my child in an enhanced pathway specifically?"
OxPCF shared:
Parent carers have told us there is still confusion around what Enhanced Pathways are, how they differ from resource bases or specialist provision, and how children and young people access support within them. Families have also shared uncertainty about whether an Enhanced Pathway can be specifically requested as part of school preference discussions or EHCP processes.
Parent carers continue to tell us that clearer information about the different types of SEND provision available across Oxfordshire, including what Enhanced Pathways can and cannot offer, would be helpful. Families have also highlighted that, while Enhanced Pathways may work well for some children and young people, they will not be the right provision for everyone.
You Asked - What is an Enhanced Pathway?
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The Enhanced Pathways programme was first introduced in 2020 to support children and young people with SEND in their local mainstream school. As of September 2025, there are 40 Enhanced Pathways available in Oxfordshire schools; a further 20 will be added in September 2026.
Each Enhanced Pathway is different, but the overall offer is personalised tailored support provision within a mainstream school.
Children and young people attending an Enhanced Pathway may benefit from:
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Smaller group teaching
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Teacher-led specialist support
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Help with communication, sensory, social and emotional needs
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Adapted learning approaches
The aim is to provide the right support at the right time before difficulties escalate, helping children and young people feel safe, included and understood while remaining in their local school wherever possible.
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A more inclusive school experience
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No two Enhanced Pathways are exactly the same. Each pathway is developed by the host school based on the needs of its pupils, the experience of its staff and the plans it submits when applying for funding to establish the provision.
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Enhanced Pathways are designed to reduce the need for children or young people to travel long distances to school, but rather find the support they need locally.
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Schools involved in the programme work closely with families to understand each child’s strengths, needs and goals. Parents or carers cannot apply for a place in an Enhanced Pathway for their child or young person, rather the Pathways are developed by each school as a response to their children and young people’s needs.
Parents whose children accessed an Enhanced Pathway during the pilot stage reported increased confidence in mainstream education following their experience.
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Drawing on additional funding, schools have been able to support children with a hybrid model of mainstream and specialist resources. One parent described the provision as “heaven” for her child, who was pre-verbal before the pathway was set up, but was now beginning to express themself with spoken language and recently said “mummy” for the first time.
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Another child joined an Enhanced Pathway in Year 1 unable to read, write or communicate verbally. By the end of the year, they had passed their phonics screening check, performed in the school talent show and were confidently communicating with familiar adults and peers.
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The aim of Enhanced Pathways is to create a wider range of support across the county, so that children, young people and families can access the type of provision that best meets their individual needs at the right time.
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However, for some children and young people, a specialist setting will continue to be the right and most appropriate provision to meet their needs. Oxfordshire County Council continues to invest in and expand specialist school places alongside the Enhanced Pathways programme.
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Oxfordshire County Council hopes the continued expansion of Enhanced Pathways will mean more children and young people with SEND can thrive in their local community, feel included in school life and achieve positive outcomes for the future. Find out more about the SEND provision at your child or young person’s school on the school website.
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Read more about Enhanced Pathways in Oxfordshire:
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‘The inclusive school blazing a path on SEND reform’, BBC Oxford 26 February 2026
‘Enhanced pathways way forward for SEND services’, BBC Oxford 20 March 2025
‘How we’re helping pupils with Send stay in mainstream school’, Local Government Chronicle 19 March 2025