Features
Alternative Provision Software Features
Everything schools, AP providers and local authorities need to manage alternative provision safely – in one secure, web-based system.
One system for the whole AP journey
ReferralMS follows a young person from the first AP referral to the day their placement ends and beyond. Schools make and track referrals, providers record attendance, safeguarding and progress, and commissioners can see what is happening across placements. Everyone works from the same up-to-date record, instead of separate spreadsheets and email threads.
Referral management
Online referral forms
Structured referrals capturing needs, risks and history, sent securely to the provider.
Status tracking
Draft, submitted, accepted and placed – everyone sees where a referral stands.
Referral links for schools
Providers can give each school a secure link to submit referrals without an account.
Compliance and safeguarding records
Safeguarding in alternative provision depends on good records. These tools help schools and providers keep evidence in line with KCSIE and the DfE’s statutory guidance on alternative provision.
Staff vetting
Enhanced DBS, Section 128 and Right to Work checks with expiry alerts.
Safeguarding concerns
Log, route and securely share concerns with designated safeguarding leads.
Risk assessments and policies
Keep risk assessments, policies and reviews current, with evidence on file.
Digital consent forms
Parents sign consent online; key permissions are visible to staff.
Quality assurance visits
Record QA visits, findings and actions for each provider.
Audit trail
Every action timestamped and attributed for full accountability.
Attendance tracking
Tracking pupils in alternative provision starts with knowing they arrived. Attendance recorded by the provider reaches the school straight away.
Session registers
Mark attendance per session with DfE attendance codes.
Shared with schools
Attendance flows to the commissioning school automatically.
Then vs now
Compare this week, month and term with the last to celebrate improvement.
Progress and outcomes
Learning and progress
Record work completed, levels passed and mock results.
Qualifications
Track qualifications and accreditation achieved during a placement.
Destinations
Follow up next steps after a placement ends with destination surveys.
Reporting
Dashboards
Live views of referrals, placements, attendance and compliance.
Inspection readiness
Evidence organised for Ofsted and local authority quality assurance.
Exports
CSV and PDF exports for governors, commissioners and subject access requests.
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See ReferralMS in action
Book a short, no-obligation demo and we’ll show you how ReferralMS fits the way your school, provision or local authority works.