Alternative Provision (AP) FAQ
What is AP?
Halton defines AP as supervised provision that is part of a pupil’s regular timetable, away from the main school site and not led by school staff. AP can be used to prevent exclusions, provide an additional curriculum element or to re-engage students in their education. Pupils on an AP programme must receive a full-time timetable overall and English and maths must be an element of their provision.
How many hours for an AP timetable?
All pupils must receive full-time provision in total, whether in one setting or more. 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.
The government’s guidance makes it clear that ‘all pupils of compulsory school age are entitled to a full-time education’ and that part-time timetables should only be used ‘in very exceptional circumstances’ . If inspectors find that a school is using a part-time timetable for a student, they will ask the school to show them the time-limited plan to enable the student to be reintegrated quickly to full-time education and evidence of the plan’s success. If a pupil needs to be removed from the school for a period of time for disciplinary purposes, the correct exclusion procedures must be followed.
School’s Use of Exclusions (2014)
How many hours can an Alternative Provider deliver?
Hours offered – to ensure that all providers fulfil their statutory requirements when offering AP programmes. In particular, a provider of alternative provision should be registered as an independent school if it caters full- time for five or more students of compulsory school age; or one such student who is looked after or has a statement of special educational needs.
Alternative Provision, OFSTED (2014)
What is full time provision?
Full time provision is the same that the pupil would receive if attending their mainstream school on a full time basis.
Is Work Experience AP?
Halton Alternative Provision Strategy Group has agreed to collect data from schools on pupils accessing an AP timetable and this includes those on extended work experience. However, Work Experience providers will not be included in the Halton AP Directory and schools must fulfil their statutory duties when making such arrangements. The pupils accessing any Work Experience remain the sole responsibility of the school whilst doing so.
Whilst the school holds the duty of care for students on work experience, Halton Borough Council (HBC) cannot discharge its health & safety or safeguarding duties to schools and we recommend thatschools develop their work experience programme that meets the standard set by HBC.
The government describes work experience as follows; Work Experience is for pupils in the final two years of compulsory education. Schools should ensure that they have in place arrangements whereby the work experience placement provider notifies the school of any absences by individual pupils. Any absence should be recorded using the relevant code. (W)
School Attendance (2014)
Are AP providers registered with OFSTED?
The government has defined the registration requirements for Alternative Providers as follows;
In particular, a provider of alternative provision should be registered as an independent school if it caters full- time for five or more students of compulsory school age; or one such student who is looked after or has a statement of special educational needs.
Alternative Provision, OFSTED (2014) & School Inspection Handbook (2014)
What should be included in AP?
Provision will differ from pupil to pupil, but there are some common elements that alternative provision should aim to achieve, including:
good academic attainment on par with mainstream schools – particularly in English, maths and science (including IT) – with appropriate accreditation and qualifications;
that the specific personal, social and academic needs of pupils are properly identified and met in order to help them to overcome any barriers to attainment;
improved pupil motivation and self-confidence, attendance and engagement with education; and
clearly defined objectives, including the next steps following the placement such as reintegration into mainstream education, further education, training or employment.
Alternative Provision Statutory Guidance (2013)
How do I ensure I am prepared for inspection with regard to AP?
AP is a key element of the OFSTED Inspection Framework (2014) and inspectors will focus on this before and during inspection. Inspectors will need to ensure that any AP used is safe, meets the pupil’s needs and provides good outcomes for the AP cohort, in comparison to the rest of their peers. Relevant extracts from the current Inspection Framework are included in Halton’s AP Directory and the Halton AP Quality Assurance Checklist.
What registration codes are used to mark pupils attending AP?
The government advise schools on attendance codes and those used for AP as follows;
Present at an Approved Off-Site Educational Activity
An approved educational activity is where a pupil is taking part in supervised educational activity such as field trips, educational visits, work experience or alternative provision. Pupils can only be recorded as receiving off-site educational activity if the activity meets the requirements prescribed in regulation 6(4) of the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006. The activity must be of an educational nature approved by the school and supervised by someone authorised by the school. The activity must take place during the session for which the mark is recorded.
School Attendance (2014)
Attendance codes for when pupils are present at approved off-site educational activity are as follows:
Code B: Off-site educational activity
This code should be used when pupils are present at an off-site educational activity that has been approved by the school. Ultimately schools are responsible for the safeguarding and welfare of pupils educated off-site. Therefore by using code B, schools are certifying that the education is supervised and measures have been taken to safeguard pupils. This code should not be used for any unsupervised educational activity or where a pupil is at home doing school work. Schools should ensure that they have in place arrangements whereby the provider of the alternative activity notifies the school of any absences by individual pupils. The school should record the pupil’s absence using the relevant absence code.
School Attendance (2014)
What AP data does Halton Local Authority collect?
Halton Alternative Provision Strategy Group has agreed to collect the following data on pupils accessing AP;
· Pupil name, DoB, year group, Key Stage
· AP attended by provider
· Start and end date
· Hours accessed through AP and in total
· Reason for AP
· Progress made whist on AP
· Qualifications achieved
· Destination following AP
What information does the Halton AP Directory include?
The Halton AP Directory includes an overview of AP in Halton following the strategic review. It provides details of provision offered through The Bridge School and the Alternative providers commissioned by them. The relevant referral forms and Service Level Agreements are available. The Quality Assurance (QA) Framework used to monitor and evaluate these providers is also included alongside an annual calendar of QA events. The statutory duties for schools are explained. All Halton high schools will receive a copy of the directory and it is also available on The Bridge School’s website.
What are the issues regarding pupil attendance at AP?
Schools retain the responsibility at all times for the attendance of pupils whether attending provision in the mainstream setting or at a venue agreed off site. Where there is a Service Level Agreement in place between a school and provider it must clearly state who is responsible for pupil’s attendance. In Halton, where schools access AP through The Bridge School Engagement Programme the SLA clearly states;
The mainstream school will;
1. Maintain their “Duty of Care” for all students and adhere to relevant legislation.
2. Retain responsibility for monitoring student attendance in the school’s register. The school’s EWO will monitor registers and carry out any necessary interventions to reduce any absence.
The Bridge School will;
1. Provide accurate and up-to-date attendance information; attendance registers per session/day, termly attendance figures/targets, rewards etc.
2. Provide timely absence reporting – on the same day of absence, to the school. All commissioned providers are required to undertake 1st day contact and liaise on the same day with The Bridge.
3. Work with school/provider and EWS to address school absence
When a Halton school uses AP outside of the Halton AP SLA they must make their own arrangements with the provider regarding all attendance and absence issues.
OFSTED, during inspection, will scrutinise the school’s arrangements for pupils accessing AP;
The inspection of attendance. During the inspection - leadership and
management: Inspectors must evaluate leaders’ and managers ‘use of alternative provision through taking account of (a range of factors including):
how well the school monitors and evaluates pupils ‘progress, attendance and behaviour, and intervenes to support pupils where needed.
How is AP monitored in Halton?
The Halton Alternative Provision Strategy Group has committed to review and improve AP and they regularly meet and monitor the AP delivery available, record all pupils accessing AP and monitor the progress and destination of this cohort. They have tasked an AP Monitoring Group to termly meet and fulfil this task. The group report to the 11-19 Partnership and the Children’s Trust.
Is Home Tuition AP?
Halton provides Home Tuition to those pupils who for medical reasons are unable to attend their mainstream school over a period of time. The Home Tuition Service is included as a provider in the Halton AP Directory and undergoes the agreed Quality Assurance framework.
OVERVIEW
The recent Strategic Review of Alternative Provision (AP) in Halton provided these key recommendations:
· The Strategic AP Group to identify appropriate funding streams to support the revised model.
· Implement one AP service with teams responsible for its delivery.
· Develop a menu of provision that includes full and part time programmes, outreach and CPD with clear entry routes and criteria and agreed exit outcomes and delivered by specialist staff.
· Implement a robust quality assurance framework for all AP
To develop the menu of provision on offer a tender process was conducted to procure a range of AP options for the broad range of student need. A Quality Assurance framework will be ongoing to ensure the providers in this directory reach the high standards expected by the AP Strategic Group. Quality assurance of these providers included the following aspects:
· Meeting student’s needs, areas for provision, types of package and provision for SEND
· Clear arrangements for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and multiagency work, including clear guidelines and responsibilities regarding student attendance
· Delivering high levels of achievement including engagement of learners, maths and English, good attendance rates and post 16 progression.
· Quality and performance of workforce
Categories of provision in this directory are:
1. Full‐time alternative education, including day 6 provision – KS3&4
2. Full‐time revolving door provision- KS3&4
3. Part‐time Engagement Provision – KS3&KS4
4. Preventative/outreach programmes. (To be developed)
This directory gives outline details of the services on offer within these categories for schools.
The AP framework is designed to meet the needs of children and young people at Key Stage 3 and 4 who are permanently excluded from school; excluded from school on a fixed‐term basis; at risk of disengaging from mainstream education and/or being excluded from school; require additional support during a negotiated transfer between mainstream schools; otherwise require alternative education provision to meet their educational entitlement, for instance in line with an Education and Health Care Plan or is a Child in Care with no school place referred through the In Year Fair Access Panel (IYFAP). The framework does not include temporary placements for students awaiting a placement at specialist provision.
Using the AP Directory
Alternative Provision
Halton defines AP as supervised provision as part of a pupil’s regular timetable, away from the main school site and not led by school staff. AP can be used to prevent exclusions, provide an additional curriculum element or to re-engage students in their education. Pupils on an AP programme must receive a full-time timetable overall and English and maths must be an element of their provision.
Providers are not ranked in this directory.
Schools may use the directory to choose a provider which offer the type of provision sought and seek the details on relevant pages. Schools may access any of the provision through a referral to the Bridge School’s Engagement Service using the referral form in this directory. Types of provision made are also clearly shown in the banner at the top of each provider’s page.
Please use the model referral form, as shown in the directory.
Details of the Types of Provision on offer
In line with the AP Strategic Review the AP Directory is designed to support the delivery of the following provision and interventions at each of the key stages:
1. Full Time provision KS3:
KS3 –The focus will be to ensure students stay on track with their learning and if appropriate sustain a new mainstream placement. It will include packages delivered by a sole provider (The Bridge) and packages delivered by 2 or more providers in order to meet individual needs. Thorough diagnostic and holistic assessments will identify any additional needs and inform the Learner Passport. The programme offers a core National Curriculum element to cover English and maths, ICT and science, PSHE, Food Technology, PE, Art, music and humanities. Targeted and interventions to address personal, social and emotional development and an integration programme will support transition.
2. Full Time provision KS4:
KS4 - This is designed to provide alternative education for students excluded from mainstream school and those entering through IYFAP. Its focus is to provide alternative education, securing appropriate learning experiences and qualifications for individual students to ensure progression at post‐16 into education, employment and training. It will include packages delivered by a sole provider (The Bridge) and packages delivered by 2 or more providers in order to meet individual needs. The programme offers core subjects – English, maths up to GCSE. Other curriculum options include ICT, Science, PSHE, Art, outdoor education/PE, sports leadership, dance and drama – up to GCSE. Vocational options include child care, trade multi-skills – plastering, plumbing, painting and decorating, joinery, tiling and electrical skills. up to GCSE level. Targeted and interventions to address personal, social and emotional development will support transition to the next stage of learning.