Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Accepted
Paragraph: 119
Scrutinise alternative provision use to improve attendance, discouraging its application for behaviour management.
Recommendation
It is clear that alternative provision should only be a time-limited intervention with clear structures to ensure each pupil’s needs are being effectively supported. The Department should scrutinise its use and ensure they’re being used as methods of support to improve attendance, and discourage its use as a means to manage behaviour.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need to ensure alternative provision is a time-limited intervention for support, and is testing a new AP system model through a Change Programme, focusing on targeted support, time-limited placements, and reintegration to improve attendance and reduce preventable exclusions.
Paragraph Reference:
119
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government acknowledges that if needs and behaviours that present a barrier to attendance were addressed earlier, more children could be supported to thrive in their mainstream school. That is why the proposed alternative provision reforms will see alternative provision schools work closely in partnership with mainstream schools to provide high-quality targeted support and one-to-one interventions. This will build capacity in mainstream schools to identify and support needs early, reducing the numbers of preventable exclusions and expensive long-term placements, and lead to improvements in children’s wellbeing and outcomes, including attendance. Through the Change Programme outlined above, The Department is testing a new model for the alternative provision system across three tiers of support that focuses on targeted support in mainstream schools; time-limited placements for those who need more intensive support; and transitional placements for those children and young people who will be supported to reintegrate into mainstream education or move to a post-16 destination. This new approach will support alternative provision to be used as a time limited intervention for young people, instead of a destination. Over time, this will increase attendance and reduce the number of preventable exclusions and expensive long-term placements, as needs will be identified and supported earlier.