What is alternative provision?

Alternative Provision also known as AP is:

  • education arranged by local authorities for pupils who would not get a proper education
  • this could be due to exclusion, illness, or other reasons
  • education arranged by schools for pupils on a fixed period exclusion
  • schools can also direct pupils to offsite provision to improve their behaviour (DfE 2013)

Cumberland's AP can support pupils in Cumberland schools. It provides full or part-time placements for those finding mainstream education challenging.

Who chooses if a child or young person should go to  an alternative provision school?

All pupils must receive a good education, whatever their circumstances.

Schools can use Alternative Provision to:

  • help prevent school exclusions
  • to re-engage pupils in their education

5 Key things parents and carers should know about Alternative Provision

  1. A provider of AP should be registered as an independent school if:
    • it caters full-time, to 5 or more pupils of compulsory school age
    • it has one such pupil who is a ‘child looked after’ or has an EHCP
  2. All pupils are entitled to a full-time education. Pupils should study English and maths as part of their core offer of education. Pupils placed in AP must remain on their school roll, unless they have been permanently excluded. The school where the pupil is on roll is responsible for ensuring each pupil meets their outcomes.
  3. Interventions and reasonable adjustments should be agreed before a pupil starts their AP placement. Agreement from all parties makes sure the placement is:
    • necessary
    • appropriate (able to meet needs)
    • in the best interests of the pupil
  4. Pupils in AP must be regularly reviewed. This is to assess the ongoing suitability of the placement. It also plans for transition back into mainstream education.
  5. Pupils placed in AP should be given clear objectives linked to their:
    • outcomes
    • reintegration
    • transition

The school where the pupil is on roll is responsible for ensuring outcomes are reviewed regularly during the placement.

What is good alternative provision?

Alternative Provision varies. It would not be right to set a one-size-fits-all for what good AP looks like. However, AP should aim to:

  • provide supportive, flexible environments that meet individual needs
  • enable pupils to make good educational progress
  • offer accredited qualifications
  • identify and help meet the personal, social, and academic needs of their pupils.
  • this will help pupils overcome barriers to learning and re-integration
  • improve pupil motivation, regulation, self-confidence, attendance, and engagement with education
  • define clear objectives
  • this should include next steps, following the placement
  • this could be re-integration into mainstream education, training, or employment

Cumberland's alternative provision - Pupil Referral Units (PRUs)

PRUs are a type of alternative provision. A PRU is a school that caters for children who aren’t able to attend a mainstream school. Many pupils who are on the roll at a PRU also attend other forms of AP off-site. The AP support is tailored to meet the needs of the pupil. It will include assessment, intervention, support, and guidance. It will also help with reintegration back into mainstream school.

This provision is commissioned to help and support young people who need a different curriculum. It also offers high levels of pastoral and specialist support. This is used to re-engage the young person in their learning.

Cumberland has 2 local authority-commissioned Pupil Referral Units (PRU):

Other Alternative Provision

Other types of AP include:

  • therapeutic farms
  • forest schools
  • outdoor learning centres
  • sports facilities
  • hospital home tuition
  • animal-assisted therapeutic centres
  • vocational and practical courses

Pupils may attend AP full or part-time. The rest of their education takes place at their usual school. They must receive a full-time education.

School responsibilities and AP

Cumberland Council is committed to working with schools to reduce school exclusions. Before requesting an AP placement schools should have:

  • thoroughly assessed the needs of the pupil
  • made all reasonable efforts to support the pupil within their existing resources
  • got advice and guidance from the SEND and Inclusion teams

Local authority responsibilities and AP

The local authority is responsible for:

  • keeping its offer of AP and SEND under review
  • this includes ensuring that children and young people are educated at the right time, in the right place, and with the right level of support
  • commissioning high-quality places to support young people who have or are at risk of, being excluded from school
  • administering efficient financial contributions for places and transport

All AP Providers have quality assurance visits from a Local Authority Officer.