Guide to Alternative Provision

The Department for Education (DfE) requires providers who offer over 18 hours per week of AP (to any one pupil) to be DfE registered and inspected by Ofsted. Providers offering fewer than 18 hours are not required to be DfE registered. In Wiltshire, only two Alternative Providers are DfE registered. These are: On Track and WASP, who both work with secondary aged pupils.

All other providers on the WAAP directory offer fewer than 18 hours, so are not registered with the DfE. They are, however, quality assured by Wiltshire Council and must operate within the statutory guidance around AP.

The DfE requires any provider to be registered if it is intended to provide, or does provide, all, or substantially all, of a child's education. In practice no unregistered provider should be offering more than 5 x half day sessions per week, where a half day is a morning or an afternoon. To read further on this topic visit the the AP teams right choice page and read Alternative provision guide 2023 (opens new window).

Your child is entitled to full-time education. This can be made up of two or more part-time provisions, or part-time at AP and part-time at school. There is no legal definition of what constitutes "full-time" education. Your child should receive the same amount of education as they would receive in a maintained school, unless their health means that full-time education would not be in their best interests. In the majority of cases, your child's education package at AP (excluding travel time) will start no later than 9am, and finish no earlier than 3pm. In some cases, the school may judge that the package planned for your child is equivalent to full-time within a shorter school day, for example, that provision made in intensive small groups, or a 1 on 1 teaching session equates to the amount of education that your child would receive in a longer session, in a larger group. In such cases the school must liaise with you and/or key professionals to ensure that suitable supervision/safety arrangements are in place for your child between the hours of 9am and 3pm.

While you are not required to give consent for your child to be allocated a place at AP, the school must have your consent to a part-time timetable. This is known as reduced education provision. Any such reduced timetable must be also for a time limited period and reviewed regularly.

Any AP placement should be time limited. The school will usually agree a placement for between six and twelve weeks depending on the number of days your child is expected to attend the provision each week. The school will schedule a review and you will be invited to attend. At the review the provider and the school will discuss your child's progress with you. The placement may be extended if your child is making progress and it is agreed that it is in their best interests to remain. This will be for an agreed period of time, with set learning outcomes and a programme of support.

The quality assurance work undertaken by Wiltshire Council supports the school's responsibilities for AP. The school is responsible for:

1. matching the provision to your child - the school should consider what providers can meet the needs of your child, including the quality of the provision, costs, and value for money. This should involve a visit to the site or meeting with the provider
2. safety - the school must seek assurance that safeguarding, pastoral support, and health and safety arrangements at the provision, including transport arrangements, are suitable for your child.
3. pupil plans - a personalised plan should be designed, that sets clear improvement and attainment objectives to help your child overcome any barriers to progress.
4. collaboration - robust and secure information sharing arrangements should be agreed between the school and provider/s. A school must retain safeguarding and SEND leadership for your child, and ensure all relevant information is shared with providers.
5. multiple AP information sharing - the school must ensure, where your child attends more than one AP, that information is shared about absence/attendance, well-being and safeguarding. Arrangements to meet free school meals entitlement must also be in place.

The school is responsible for transport arrangements to any AP for your child. Some parents are able to take their child to the setting, and this can work well in some cases, but the school should not expect you to be responsible for the transport.

Alternative provision settings typically involve smaller group sizes. Your child may receive a learning schedule tailored to them, rather than following one for all pupils. They may have access to more support from therapeutic and pastoral support workers. Teachers are often trained to work with young people exhibiting behaviour that challenges. Alternative Providers can also take more creative and bespoke approaches to address individual needs. Some children and young people feel that alternate provision provides welcome relief from the pressure of large and demanding mainstream schools, and that programmes less focused on academic outcomes create a learning environment that enables them to thrive.

Parental consent is not required for a school to direct a child off-site. However, it should be a collaborative process as far as is reasonably practicable, and the school should work closely with you to maximise the chances of success for your child. You should share your concerns with the school leadership team, and use the school complaints policy if you feel concerns have not been addressed. If your child does not attend AP, the school will work with you to improve your child's attendance. You may receive a penalty notice if you fail to ensure your child attends the provision made for them.