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Alternative Provision · 22 July 2026

What Due Diligence Should Alternative Provisions Carry Out?

5 minute read

When people talk about due diligence, the focus is often on what schools should check before commissioning an alternative provision. But due diligence works both ways.

Providers also have a responsibility to make sure they are operating safely, meeting their legal obligations and giving schools confidence that they can deliver a high-quality service.

The strongest providers don't wait for a school, trust or local authority to ask for evidence. They regularly review their own practice or have external independent reviews, which identify areas for improvement and make sure important information is ready to share when it's needed. Think of due diligence as an ongoing process rather than a one-off exercise.

Start with Legal Compliance

Before accepting referrals, providers should be clear about whether their service is operating within the legal framework.

Ask yourself:

  • Does our provision need to be registered with Ofsted?
  • Have we reviewed this as the provision has developed?
  • Are we clear about the number of pupils attending and the education we provide?
  • Have we sought professional advice where there is uncertainty?

Understanding these responsibilities from the outset helps avoid problems later.

Good practice

If your provision has expanded over time, don't assume the legal position is the same as when you first opened. Changes to pupil numbers, the age range you work with or the amount of education you provide could affect whether registration is required.

Review Safeguarding Regularly

Safeguarding should never be treated as a folder of policies sitting on a shelf. Schools want to know that safeguarding is part of everyday practice.

Review whether you can clearly demonstrate:

  • safer recruitment processes
  • up-to-date DBS checks
  • safeguarding training for all staff
  • a designated safeguarding lead
  • clear reporting procedures
  • effective record keeping
  • information sharing with commissioning schools
  • attendance monitoring
  • risk assessments where appropriate

Policies are important, but schools will also want evidence that staff understand them and use them consistently.

Do Your Policies Reflect Your Practice?

One of the most common issues found during quality assurance reviews is that policies look excellent, but everyday practice tells a different story.

Ask yourself:

  • Do staff follow the procedures we've written?
  • Would every member of the team respond consistently?
  • Are policies reviewed regularly?
  • Have recent legislative changes been reflected?
  • Can we provide evidence that procedures are being followed?

Schools are looking for consistency, not just paperwork.

Review Your Quality of Education

Schools aren't simply commissioning a safe environment. They're commissioning education.

Providers should regularly evaluate:

  • the curriculum being delivered
  • how learning is planned
  • how progress is measured
  • how outcomes are reported
  • how individual needs are met
  • how attendance affects progress
  • how pupils are prepared for their next steps

Being able to explain the impact of your provision gives schools confidence that placements are making a real difference.

Check Your Leadership and Governance

Strong leadership creates confidence. Consider whether your provision can clearly demonstrate:

  • who has overall responsibility
  • how decisions are made
  • how quality is monitored
  • how complaints are managed
  • how incidents are reviewed
  • how improvements are identified and implemented

Even smaller providers benefit from having clear governance arrangements. Schools increasingly want reassurance that providers review their own performance rather than waiting for concerns to arise.

Keep essential documentation organised

When a school asks for information, being able to provide it quickly demonstrates professionalism.

Useful documents might include:

  • safeguarding policy
  • child protection procedures
  • behaviour policy
  • complaints policy
  • health and safety policy
  • public liability insurance
  • employer's liability insurance
  • DBS evidence
  • staff training records
  • risk assessments
  • attendance procedures
  • referral processes
  • quality assurance reports

Keeping these documents up to date also makes internal reviews much easier.

Be Prepared For Provider Visits

Many schools, trusts and local authorities now visit providers before commissioning placements. These visits are an opportunity to demonstrate how your provision operates.

Think about what visitors will see.

Is the environment safe?

Can staff confidently explain safeguarding procedures?

Are pupils engaged in learning?

Can you clearly explain how you monitor attendance, behaviour and progress?

Good preparation helps schools build confidence in your provision.

Don't wait for problems before reviewing your provision

The strongest alternative provisions don't wait until concerns are raised or a commissioning organisation asks difficult questions before reviewing how they operate. Regularly evaluating your policies, procedures and day-to-day practice helps identify opportunities for improvement early, giving you time to make meaningful changes before they become larger issues.

While internal reviews are an important part of continuous improvement, they can sometimes overlook areas simply because staff are so familiar with their own systems. An independent external review provides a fresh, objective perspective, helping to identify both strengths and areas for development that might otherwise go unnoticed.

External reviews also demonstrate a commitment to quality. They can give schools, trusts and local authorities greater confidence that your provision has been independently assessed against current expectations, while providing practical recommendations to strengthen safeguarding, leadership, governance and the quality of education.

Rather than seeing an external review as something to consider only when concerns arise, the most effective providers use them as part of an ongoing quality assurance cycle, supporting continuous improvement, strengthening relationships with commissioning organisations and providing reassurance that their provision is ready for scrutiny at any time.

Areas worth reviewing include:

Independent reviews can also provide valuable reassurance by offering an objective view of strengths, areas for development and opportunities to improve.

A Culture of Continuous Improvement

Due diligence isn't about creating more paperwork. It's about understanding your provision well enough to demonstrate that pupils are safe, staff are supported and education is effective.

Providers that regularly review their practice are usually better prepared for quality assurance visits, inspection activity and commissioning conversations.

More importantly, they are in a stronger position to provide the consistent, high-quality support that children and young people deserve.

From Our Perspective

The providers that inspire the greatest confidence are those that view quality assurance as an ongoing process rather than a one-off exercise. Regular self-review is an important starting point, but combining this with an independent external review can provide valuable reassurance and a fresh perspective. An experienced external consultant can identify strengths, highlight potential risks and offer practical recommendations that may be difficult to spot from within the organisation.

Being prepared isn't about having perfect paperwork. It's about understanding your provision, being open to continuous improvement and being able to demonstrate to schools, trusts and local authorities that your safeguarding, leadership, governance and quality of education have been robustly reviewed. This not only helps build confidence with commissioning organisations but also shows a clear commitment to delivering the best possible outcomes for children and young people.

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