Alternative Provision overview
The Department for Education defines "Alternative Provision" (AP), as education arranged by local authorities or schools for pupils. AP is arranged for pupils who, for reasons such as exclusion, illness, or other circumstances, would otherwise not receive suitable education. This also includes education arranged by schools for pupils on fixed-period exclusions, or when schools direct pupils to off-site provision to improve their behavior.
The Secondary Support Service works in collaboration with the Enfield Admissions team to support secondary aged children in Enfield who may require an AP placement. AP placements have a different educational approach compared to mainstream schools. This often includes vocational subjects alongside the national GCSE curriculum. While most AP placements are full-time, part-time options are available. These providers are designed to support children who are struggling in mainstream settings and may be at risk of permanent exclusion.
Our aims
- Provide essential support for children from Enfield schools and the Enfield Admissions team who require AP
- Assist with matching students to AP providers according to their individual needs
- Work collaboratively with students, families, schools, and other professionals to empower students to succeed
- Help monitor the quality of AP providers
- Solve problems swiftly and effectively for students and stakeholders
What we do
- Assist schools and professionals to identify students who benefit from AP
- Arrange meetings with students and families to explore the range of AP providers available
- Provide clear, comprehensive information to students, families, other professionals and school staff about AP options
- Adopt a robust network with professionals to provide ongoing support for students in AP
- Maintain close working relationships with AP providers for seamless transitions and effective placements
- Secondary Support Service provide an AP mentor who actively supports students while attending their AP placement, sharing updates with the home school (if applicable), guardians and professional network
Learner criteria
- Students who consistently display ongoing behaviour concerns
- Students who consistently struggle to meet expectations in a mainstream setting
- Students who require short-term or longer-term placements to assess their needs comprehensively
Please note: Students must not have an Education, Health, and Care Plan at the time of referral, or we cannot proceed. In this instance, please contact the child’s Special Educational Needs case worker.
The process
- A meeting can be arranged with the family and the student’s home school (if applicable) to discuss AP options
- We can help arrange visits for the family to carefully consider potential AP providers
- Once a decision is made, a referral is formally submitted, and a start date is set
- Schools also have the option to refer a student directly to an AP provider