When is an Alternative Provision appropriate?

Since January 2013, governing bodies of maintained schools have had the power to direct a pupil off-site for education to improve their behaviour. This makes it more difficult for carers, social workers, VSOs and IROs to challenge the commissioning of AP for Looked After Children.

However, statutory guidance requires the governing body to ensure the corporate parent is given clear information about the placement: why, where, when and how it will be reviewed.

In considering the use of AP for a Looked After Child, governing bodies and headteachers should consider whether this is in fact in their best interests. Where negative behaviour in a child springs from past trauma leading to becoming looked after, and where children have lives characterised by instability and change, disruption to their education is more likely to increase such behaviour rather than to lessen it, and only further decrease their life chances.

While the behaviour of a child is the most common reason for its use, alternative provision may be used for a variety of other reasons such as illness, or very short term while waiting for a school place for a child newly arrived in the authority.

Governing bodies of schools are responsible for arranging suitable alternative full-time education from the sixth day of a fixed term exclusion. However, in the case of Looked After Children, a school is expected to make this provision from day one. Full-time means the same total amount of education as the child would receive in a maintained school.