Alternative education providers can offer high-quality tutoring or support outside of the usual school setting, designed to meet varied and complex needs. Schools may use this kind of support to help prevent exclusions and to re-engage children who may be struggling. This can help them get back on track, whether that means returning to their school, specialist provider or post-16 provision.

Alternative Provision settings provide education for pupils who do not attend a mainstream school or special school full time. The education often takes place at a Pupil Referral Unit, Alternative Provision Academy or free school, but placements can also be arranged in another mainstream school, independent school or in an educational setting that is not registered with the Department for Education.

Alternative provision offers other educational provision, this may include provision such as sports or arts, paired reading schemes, online and blended learning and more depending on the need.

Section 19(1) of the Education Act 1996 as amended by section 3 of the Children, Schools and Families Act 2010, local authorities are responsible for arranging full-time education for:

• permanently excluded pupils or
• pupils who - because of illness or other reasons - would not receive suitable education without such provision

These are arrangements made elsewhere than at a school which include:

• pupil referral units,
• alternative provision academies
• Alternative provision free schools

The Inclusion Team aims to make sure all children and young people at risk of exclusion are in a suitable and aspirational educational setting. They support schools in reducing barriers to learning that result in fixed and permanent exclusions. The Inclusion support pathway in downloads section includes details of support available to prevent exclusion.

For a list of Alternative provision in Wolverhampton and its surrounding areas please visit Alternative Provision Directory.

EHCP Plans and Alternative Provision

Alternative provision must be arranged in line with a child or young person’s EHC plan.

Local Authorities should consider whether the EHC Plan needs to be reviewed to ensure that the child or young person’s SEN will be appropriately supported. Where alternative provision is specified in a child or young person’s EHC Plan the local authority must arrange that provision.