Alternative provision compliance
Alternative Provision Compliance, Made Manageable
Schools remain responsible for pupils they place in alternative provision, and providers must show they are safe and effective. ReferralMS keeps the evidence both sides need in one place.
What the guidance asks of schools and providers
Alternative provision compliance is about being able to show that every young person is safe, attending and making progress. Three pieces of DfE guidance shape what that means in practice.
Statutory guidance on alternative provision
Commissioners should set clear objectives for each placement, share full information about the pupil with the provider, check the provider is suitable, and keep reviewing attendance, progress and wellbeing.
Keeping Children Safe in Education
A school placing a pupil with a provider remains responsible for their safeguarding, should know where the pupil is each day, and should have written confirmation of the provider’s staff checks.
Suspensions and permanent exclusions
The guidance sets out when suitable full-time education must be in place after a suspension or permanent exclusion, and the expectations around off-site direction and managed moves.
What good AP compliance looks like
In day-to-day terms, schools and providers should be able to evidence the following.
- Suitable vetting checks recorded for every member of staff
- Clear safeguarding arrangements and named contacts
- Accurate, shared attendance for every session
- Up-to-date risk assessments and policies
- Regular quality assurance and review of placements
- An audit trail showing who did what, and when
How ReferralMS supports compliance
ReferralMS gives schools and providers one shared place to record this evidence, so it is ready for quality assurance of AP, governors and inspectors.
Single central record support
Track Enhanced DBS, Section 128 and Right to Work checks, with alerts before checks expire.
Safeguarding concerns
Log concerns, route them to the right designated safeguarding leads and share them securely.
Attendance
Session registers with DfE codes, visible to the commissioning school.
Risk and consent
Risk assessments and digital parental consent kept with each pupil’s record.
Quality assurance
QA visits and external audits recorded with findings and actions.
Inspection readiness
Evidence organised so you can answer inspectors’ questions quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Does ReferralMS make us compliant automatically?
No software can do that on its own. ReferralMS gives you a clear structure for recording and evidencing compliance, and highlights gaps so you can act on them.
Is ReferralMS endorsed by the DfE?
No. ReferralMS is independent software designed to help you meet your own responsibilities under the DfE guidance. It does not replace the guidance or your professional judgement.
Is ReferralMS kept up to date with new guidance?
ReferralMS is designed around the latest KCSIE guidance, and we review it when statutory guidance changes.
See how ReferralMS evidences compliance
Book a short, no-obligation demo and we’ll show you how ReferralMS fits the way your school, provision or local authority works.