Alternative Provision

Alternative Provision is an educational provision for pupils who cannot attend a mainstream school. This can be because of health, emotional or behavioural reasons.

According to the Department of Education Alternative Provision is:

• education arranged by local authorities. This is for pupils who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not receive suitable education
• education arranged by schools for pupils following a suspension (fixed term) from day 6
• the moving of pupils by schools to off-site provision as a preventative measure to improve their behaviour

The education provision should be:

• full-time (between 18 and 25 hours per week unless the needs of the child or young person means that this is not suitable or appropriate)
• for pupils receiving one to one tuition as their alternative education provision, the recommendation is that the number of hours should not exceed 15 hours a week due to the intensive nature of this provision
• suitable for the child or young person, taking account of their age, ability and special educational needs (SEND), if they have any.