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Sign in or register for an accountA programme of alternative education provision may be offered to a pupil if they are experiencing problems with their school's mainstream curriculum offer.
This may include issues relating to behaviour and attendance, or where a pupil is seen to not be achieving good academic outcomes.
In general, most pupils will access a programme of alternative education provision on a part-time basis (eg half a day, one day a week) alongside the school's core curriculum offer. However, there are some pupils who may be timetabled with an external provider on a full-time basis.
In these circumstances, providers of alternative provision must ensure pupils have access to core curriculum subjects (ie English, mathematics, science, IT) and be given the opportunity to take appropriate and accredited qualifications that help them to progress into further education or training.
Young people that have been permanently excluded from school may also access alternative provision. This will usually be arranged by the local authority and may include a permanent placement in a pupil referral unit.
The local authority provides a dedicated support service to schools to help them arrange suitable alternative provision for their pupils in key stage 3 and 4.
The council will use a Flexible Procurement System (FPS) to purchase suitable alternative and complimentary provision. The FPS is divided into several parts (Lots) which can be chosen by schools to meet the needs of individual pupils. Lots cover several areas including:
Providers must provide significant evidence of ability to meet need to be accepted to deliver against one of these Lots, and there is no limit to the number of Lots a provider can apply for.
Providers may be approved to deliver provision for some or all the Lots they have applied to. The decision will be based on the quality of the submission received. There will be no limit to the number of providers approved in each Lot.
If approved, providers will be required to enter into an FPS agreement with the council. This does not guarantee work or funding but will give providers the opportunity to be commissioned for contracts of work, by appointment or via a competitive tender process.
This service is available to the council and schools to refer for support. It is not available for direct referral by parents or carers. In cases where families or other support professionals believe a child needs additional support, they should speak to the child’s school to plan suitable support to meet their needs.
This page was last updated on 6 February 2025