The White Paper, 'Back on Track' said that there should be a named officer or officers in each local authority, who would be responsible for overseeing alternative provision in each and ensuring it meets young people’s needs. The specifications for the role of named officer can be accessed here.

Alternative Provision

School is the best place for most children to learn, but for some children, an education outside of school can be the most appropriate option. 

Education outside of school, when it is arranged by local authorities or schools, is called Alternative Provision. It can range from pupil referral units and further education colleges to voluntary or private sector projects.

‘Alternative provision’, ‘alternative education’ and ‘alternative education provision’ are all ways to describe provision for pupils outside mainstream and special school. This provision can include:

• Provision directly managed by local authorities;
• Pupil referral units (often called PRUs for short). These are a type of school that are established and run by local authorities specifically for pupils who cannot attend a mainstream or special school. All PRUs have a Teacher in Charge, similar to a mainstream school’s head teacher, and a management committee, which acts like a school’s governing body.  From 1 February 2008, all PRUs must have a management committee that is established according to regulations and guidance.
• Local authority provision run by their pupil referral services, such as hospital schools, hospital and home teaching services, tuition centres, e-learning centres, boarding schools and others – these are sometimes registered as PRUs in their own right;
• Provision which is brokered or arranged by a local authority, school or group of schools, such as placements in FE colleges, extended work experience, projects provided by the voluntary or private sector, or through multi-agency initiatives (such as the Youth Service). 

‘Alternative provision’ can also be used to describe arrangements by schools to offer curriculum flexibility at Key Stage 4 (the 14 to 16 age group) and that are linked to the attainment of a qualification.  This may include extended work experience, programmes of vocational or work-related learning with external providers including the voluntary and community sectors.  Pupils remain on the roll of their school, and the costs of the placement will generally be met from school budgets. 

The DCSF has produced guidance for local and authorities and schools on alternative provision, which all relevant staff in local authorities and schools should be familiar with.

Alternative Provision and Local Authorities

Under section 19 of the Education Act 1996, local authorities have a duty to provide suitable education for children of compulsory school age who cannot attend school – because of illness or exclusion, for example.

The law defines suitable education as “efficient education suitable to the age, ability, aptitude and to any special educational needs”, the child (or young person) may have.  Local authorities in consultation with parents must decide what is suitable education for each particular child, and have regard to DCSF guidance and the efficient use of resources.

Local authorities cannot decide that they will not arrange any education for pupils out of school who are resident within their area.  Although the type of arrangements will vary, depending on local circumstances and policies, there are minimum standards that all local authorities are expected to meet. This is particularly important when making arrangements for pupils in vulnerable groups or for pupils whose previous family, social or educational experience has been difficult.  This may mean taking additional steps to ensure that the individual needs of pupils are met or providing access to appropriate support services. 

The local authority’s duty to provide suitable education may be met by contracting out education to the voluntary or private sector, including independent schools and work-based learning providers.  But the local authority remains accountable for the quality of education. It should satisfy itself that the quality of provision is of a good standard and it should establish robust systems to monitor the arrangements.  Local authorities also need to ensure that any outside body which they commission to provide education meets all required standards for health and safety, including appropriate Criminal Records Bureau checks for any staff that have contact with children.

The DCSF has produced guidance for local authorities and schools on commissioning, monitoring and quality assuring alternative provision, as well as more general guidance on all aspects of alternative provision.

Alternative Provision and Schools

Schools can arrange alternative provision for their pupils as part of their wider strategies for reducing exclusions. For pupils who are disengaged or disaffected, or otherwise at risk of exclusion, alternative provision can help improve motivation and address problems that could lead to them being excluded. This can include spending some time in a pupil referral unit, placements in further education colleges, vocational training or projects run by the voluntary or private sector. 

Just as with local authorities, schools must ensure that any education which they commission from outside bodies is of high quality, and ensure that robust systems are in place for monitoring the provision.  They must ensure that health and safety requirements are complied with, including that all staff working with children have appropriate criminal records bureau checks.

The DCSF has produced guidance for local authorities and schools on commissioning, monitoring and quality assuring alternative provision, as well as general guidance on all aspects of alternative provision.

Links

Guidance for Local Authorities and School – PRUs and Alternative Provision

This guidance provides advice to local authorities and schools on all aspects of alternative provision and pupil referral units.

http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=LEA%2f0024%2f2005&

Commissioning, Monitoring and Quality Assuring Alternative Provision

This guidance provides advice for local authorities and schools on all aspects of commissioning, monitoring and quality assuring alternative provision, and contains model service level contracts.

http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=LEA%2f0023%2f2005&