Alternative Provision

Alternative Provision is defined by the Department for Education as

Education arranged by local authorities for pupils who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not otherwise receive suitable education; education arranged by schools for pupils on a fixed period exclusion; and pupils being directed by schools to off-site provision to improve their behaviour.

In York this offer is met by the local authority through the Danesgate Community and Medical Tuition Service, and within alternative options that are developed by individual schools and trusts.

City of York Council has also identified a range of independent settings that offer Alternative Provision. Whilst these are unregistered settings (not registered as schools) the local authority has completed Quality Assurance exercises that satisfies them that the provision is suitably safe and secure. This information is shared with schools so they can make their own assessment. Where appropriate, affordable and possible schools can choose to commission from this list of providers in partnership with the family, provider and any other involved agency.

Schools can use such provision to try to prevent exclusions, or to re-engage pupils in their education. Schools may consider whether children and young people who are not making expected progress in mainstream school due to behavioural issues, short- or long-term illness, special educational needs, mental health needs or school exclusion may be a suitable referral for Alternative Provision.

It's expected that schools will refer pupils to Alternative Provision very rarely, and only where the setting can offer something that the school cannot, and only where the additional financial cost and time out of school is appropriate and proportionate to the presenting need, and where the school can see that it may benefit the situation positively.

With a core aim to advance pupil development in a setting different to the traditional classroom, Alternative Provision can offer much smaller pupil numbers and allows children and young people the opportunity to experience a different environment.

Alternative provision can be delivered in several different settings, including but not limited to:

sports programmes
online learning offers
outdoor learning environments
work experience placements
vocational and practical settings, such as bike mechanics

Building confidence, maintaining good behaviour and routines and wherever possible, reintegrating back into full mainstream attendance, is the key to successful Alternative Provision.