Contents
- Alternative Provision
- Annual Review
- Appeals & Mediation
- Attendance/Not in full time education
- Benefits
- Complaints
- Disability Discrimination
- Education other than in school/college
- Education, Health and Care Plans
- Exclusions
- Health
- How should the Local Authority help
- Neurodiversity
- Personal Budgets
- SEN Support in nurseries, schools and colleges
- Service Families
- Social Care
- Transport
- Year 6 Transition
- Young People’s Page
Alternative Provision
What is Alternative Provision?
Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 sets out the legal duty for a local authority to provide suitable full-time education for compulsory school-age children who are unable to attend due to illness, exclusion or otherwise.
This alternative education is referred to as “Alternative Provision”.
The most common type of alternative provision is a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) which is a school that caters for children who are not able to attend mainstream school.
Other types of alternative provision can include things like tuition, therapeutic farms, forest schools, outdoor learning centres, sports facilities, animal assisted therapy centres and practical courses like mechanics or hairdressing.
Alternative provision pathways and packages are tailored to the needs of the child or young person and are made up of education services from multiple providers. Hampshire County Council have established a “framework” of alternative provision providers that schools will be able to access when considering appropriate Alternative Provision pathways. These providers will have had checks completed by the LA to be added to the framework, however it is the responsibility of the school to ensure that ongoing safeguarding and due diligence is continued when engaging with an alternative provider.
Alternative Provision must be full-time or equivalent unless a reduced level of education would be in the child’s best interests because of their mental or physical health. Education that is provided 1:1 may be considered ‘equivalent’ to full time even if it is provided for fewer hours because 1:1 is more focussed for the child. The Education provided must also be suitable for your child’s age, ability, aptitude, and special educational needs (SEN). Alternative Provision can be made for any child, not just children with SEND. If an unregistered provider is being used then they should not provide more than 18 hours else they can be deemed to be acting as an unregistered school.
Alternative provision is often used to reduce suspensions and to prevent exclusions, this can be in the form of a managed move or the child being ordered to attend off-site provision. This is organised by the school.
If a child or young person has already been permanently excluded, alternative education must be provided from the sixth school day after the exclusion. This is organised by the LA.
If a child or young person has a fixed-term exclusion of more than five school days, the school is responsible for securing suitable alternative education during that time. This can include provisions like setting work to be completed at home, tutoring or other arrangements suitable for the child’s age and stage of education and SEND.
More information and guidance on exclusion and steps schools must follow can be found on the IPSEA website.
If a child is unable to attend school due to a short-or long-term health need which can be either a physical or mental health condition.
If a child or young person is prevented from attending school due to health needs (including mental health), alternative education should be arranged by the LA. As soon as it is clear that the child will be away from school for 15 days or more. It is up to the school to tell the LA about the child. The LA will then discuss the child’s needs and the provisions that’s required.
Please refer to the DfE statutory guidance for Arranging education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs for more information on how the LA and schools can support children who cannot attend school because of physical and mental health needs.
Temporarily not having a school place e.g. a child has moved into the borough with no suitable school places or they are an asylum seeker
For children with no school place, education must be provided immediately by the Local Authority.
The LA should always try to work with the school to meet the child’s needs. Each Local Authority has their own local process for arranging Alternative Provision.
In the first instance, parents should work with schools to access alternative provision, If this is unsuccessful, IPSEA have some template letters on their website that can be tailored to your individual circumstances when asking the LA to arrange alternative education.
Please visit Hampshire Local Offer for more support in relation to Education and Inclusion
You will find further information about the inclusion support service (ISS), and the services that are available through this process. There is also specific information and guidance for schools and parents/carers on how to manage Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA).
Click here for further information from I.P.S.E.A in relation to securing alternative provision.
What is Alternative Provision?
“Alternative provision” is the official name for education that is provided to a person who cannot attend school. People are entitled to Alternative Provision from the 6th day of an exclusion or if they are unable to attend due to illness. (There are sometimes other circumstances under which Alternative Provision is arranged but these are the main ones)
How is Alternative Provision run if my child is not on roll at a nursery/school/college?
Education will be arranged through your EHC Coordinator and/or The SNO – Special Needs Officer. They will contact providers based on your child’s needs, You can suggest providers who might be suitable.
For how many hours should my young person have Alternative provision?
While ‘full-time’ is not defined in law, pupils in alternative provision should receive the same amount of education as they would receive in a maintained school. Full-time can be made up of two or more part-time provisions. If an unregistered provider is being used then they should not provide more than 18 hours else they can be deemed to be acting as an unregistered school.
What is the policy regarding transport to various provisions?
There is no legal duty in relation to providing transport (or help with your transport costs) to AP settings. However:
- It is typical for the school arranging the AP to fund transport.
- Some disabled children can also access help with transport through social services.
The school transport team will consider applications for support with transport ton a case-by-case basis. Applications for School Transport should be made via the Education Online Portal. To contact the School Transport team directly please use the online enquiry form Hampshire County Council – School Transport Enquiry