What is alternative provision?
What is alternative provision?
Alternative Provision or "AP" is education arranged by either a school or local authority for children of compulsory school age who cnnot attend a standard mainstream school. It is typically used when a child or young person cannot access or cope with mainstream school due to:
- Exclusion - permanent or fixed-term (suspension) from school;
- Illness or Health Needs - physical and/or mental health conditions, severe school-related anxiety (such as emotional based school avoidance or EBSA), or hospital stays;
- Behavioural or Pastoral Support - off-site placements arranged as an early intervention to improve behaviour and prevent exclusion.
Other less common circumstances when AP may be appropriate include:
- Children temporarily unplaced or waiting for a mainstream school placement;
- Teenage pregnancy;
- New arrivals to the area/country; and
- In a very small number of cases at Key Stage 4 where a more bespoke vocational cirriculum has been identifed through the SEND processes.
Official guidelines are outlined by the Department for Education in Arranging Alternative Provision - guide for LAs and schools, where it also states that alternative provision "must be suitable to the child’s age, ability and aptitude, and any SEN they have" and should:
- "not be used as a substitute for special school provision simply because there is insufficient capacity in local SEN provision."
- "always be made with the child’s reintegration back into mainstream education or move onto a sustained post[1]16 destination in mind."
- "support the child to overcome their individual barriers to attainment and achievement, giving equal consideration to their pastoral needs, and enabling them to thrive and prosper in the education system."
- "address a child’s physical or mental health needs as well as personal, social and emotional needs, alongside their educational needs. For example, ensuring that the child feels like they belong to their home school community, and are able to stay in contact with classmates, and where reasonably practicable have access to the same opportunities enjoyed by their peers."
The DfE’s guidance relates to local authorities’ statutory duties under section 19 of the Education Act 1996. S.19(1) states that local authorities must arrange suitable and (normally) full-time education for children of compulsory school age who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not receive suitable education without such provision being arranged. This duty is referred to as ‘the s.19 duty’ throughout this guidance.
You can download Wigan Council’s Access to Education Policy below.
