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What Is Alternative Provision? A Guide for Schools and Parents
A plain-English guide to alternative provision in England: who it is for, the main types of AP, who arranges it and what schools and parents can expect.
Alternative provision in a nutshell
Alternative provision, usually shortened to AP, is education that takes place away from a pupil’s usual mainstream school. It is there for children and young people who, for a time, are not able to learn successfully in a mainstream classroom. For some pupils it is a full-time placement; for others it is a few sessions a week alongside their normal timetable.
AP is not a punishment and it is not a “lesser” form of education. Good alternative provision gives young people a fresh start, smaller groups, adults who have time to listen, and a curriculum that helps them get back on track – whether that means returning to their school, moving on to college or training, or gaining the qualifications they need for the next step.
Who alternative provision is for
Every young person’s story is different, but pupils are usually placed in alternative provision because:
- they have been permanently excluded from school
- they have been suspended for longer than five school days in a row
- their school is concerned they are at risk of exclusion and wants to step in early
- they cannot attend school because of physical or mental health needs
- they are struggling to engage and need a different setting for a while, for example while a special educational needs assessment takes place
The main types of alternative provision
Pupil referral units and AP academies
These are state-funded schools set up specifically for pupils who cannot attend mainstream school. They are inspected by Ofsted and often take pupils who have been permanently excluded.
Independent and registered providers
Many AP providers are independent organisations. Any setting that offers full-time education to five or more pupils of compulsory school age – or to one pupil who is looked after or has an education, health and care (EHC) plan – must be registered as an independent school with the Department for Education (DfE).
Part-time and unregistered provision
Some providers offer part-time sessions such as mentoring, sport, vocational courses or one-to-one tuition. These settings may not need to register, but schools and local authorities placing pupils with them still need to be confident that the provision is safe, suitable and of good quality.
Who arranges alternative provision?
Local authorities have a duty to arrange suitable full-time education for pupils who have been permanently excluded, from the sixth school day of the exclusion. They must also arrange education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs. Schools must arrange suitable full-time education from the sixth school day of a suspension.
Schools can also commission alternative provision themselves – for example, as an early intervention to improve behaviour or attendance. The DfE’s statutory guidance on alternative provision sets out what local authorities, headteachers and governing bodies should consider when commissioning AP, including clear objectives for each placement, good information-sharing and regular review.
What good alternative provision looks like
Good AP looks different from setting to setting, but you would expect to see:
- clear, agreed goals for each young person, reviewed regularly
- a broad timetable that includes English and maths alongside the practical or therapeutic support the pupil needs
- strong safeguarding, with properly checked staff and a named designated safeguarding lead
- accurate daily attendance, shared promptly with the school
- honest, regular updates on progress for the school and family
- a plan for what happens next, whether that is a return to school or a move into further education, employment or training
What schools remain responsible for
When a school places a pupil in alternative provision, the pupil usually stays on the school’s roll and the school keeps important responsibilities. Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) makes clear that the school continues to be responsible for the safeguarding of a pupil placed with an AP provider. Schools should obtain written confirmation that the provider has carried out the appropriate safeguarding checks on staff, and should know where the pupil is during every session.
Schools also need to record the pupil’s attendance correctly, share relevant information about the pupil’s needs and risks with the provider, and review regularly whether the placement is working. Our guide to monitoring pupils in alternative provision covers this in more detail.
What parents and carers can expect
If your child’s school suggests alternative provision, you should be told why, what the placement is meant to achieve and how long it is expected to last. You should be told where your child will be, what their timetable looks like, and who to contact with questions. Your views, and your child’s, should be listened to.
You can expect regular updates on attendance and progress, and to be invited to reviews. If you have concerns at any point, raise them with the school first – they remain responsible for your child’s education and safety while they are in AP. Our parent’s guide to alternative provision explains what to expect in more detail.
How ReferralMS supports alternative provision
ReferralMS is alternative provision software that brings schools, AP providers and local authorities together in one secure system. Schools make referrals online, providers record daily attendance, safeguarding concerns and progress, and everyone involved can see the information they need – and nothing they don’t. ReferralMS is independent software and is not endorsed by the DfE, but it is designed around the expectations set out in the statutory guidance and KCSIE.