Guide To Setting Up An Alternative Provision

Setting up an Alternative Provision is an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people who need a different approach to education. Whether you’re establishing a new provision to meet local demand or expanding an existing service, creating a safe, high-quality learning environment requires careful planning, strong leadership and a clear understanding of your responsibilities.

From deciding whether you need to register with Ofsted to developing safeguarding arrangements, recruiting staff and preparing for commissioning, there are many important decisions to make before welcoming your first learners.

The strongest Alternative Provisions don’t simply meet minimum requirements. They are built on a commitment to continuous improvement, strong relationships with schools and commissioners, and a shared ambition to help every child and young person achieve their potential.

This guide brings together the key information you need to understand before setting up an Alternative Provision. It explains the legal requirements, practical considerations and quality standards that help create safe, effective and sustainable provision, while linking to more detailed guidance on each topic throughout our Alternative Provision Knowledge Hub.

Whether you’re at the very beginning of your journey or reviewing your plans before opening, we hope this guide gives you the confidence to build a provision that puts children and young people at the heart of everything it does.

What is Alternative Provision?

Alternative Provision (AP) provides education for children and young people whose needs cannot currently be met within a mainstream school. While every learner’s circumstances are different, Alternative Provision offers the opportunity to continue learning in an environment that is better suited to their individual needs.

There are many reasons why a child or young person may access Alternative Provision. Some have experienced permanent exclusion or are at risk of exclusion, while others may have medical needs, mental health difficulties, anxiety or special educational needs that make attending mainstream school more challenging.

Alternative Provision can take many different forms, including:

• Pupil Referral Units (PRUs)
• Independent Alternative Provision providers
• Vocational training providers
• Therapeutic education settings
• Online education
• Community-based learning programmes

No two Alternative Provisions are the same.

The most effective providers design their curriculum, learning environment and support around the individual needs of the children and young people they serve. Whether a placement is short term or long term, the aim should always be to help learners make progress, rebuild confidence and achieve positive outcomes.

Alternative Provision plays a vital role within England’s education system. Every child has the right to an education that enables them to learn, develop and achieve their potential. For some children and young people, mainstream education is not always the right environment at a particular point in their journey. Alternative Provision offers an opportunity to continue learning while receiving the additional support, flexibility or specialist approach they need.

For some learners, success means returning to mainstream education. For others, it means developing the confidence, skills and qualifications needed to move successfully into further education, employment or training. Whatever the pathway, the best Alternative Provision keeps the individual needs of the child at the centre of every decision.

At its best, Alternative Provision is about far more than education delivered outside a traditional classroom. It creates safe, supportive environments where children and young people can rebuild relationships, re-engage with learning and develop the confidence to take their next steps.

From Our Experience

The strongest Alternative Provision providers never lose sight of why they exist. While safeguarding, compliance and quality assurance are all essential, the most successful provisions focus first on understanding the individual needs of every child and young person. When that remains the priority, strong systems, positive relationships and better outcomes naturally follow.

Who should read this guide?

This guide is written for school leaders, Alternative Provision leaders, proprietors, governors, commissioners, local authorities and anyone considering establishing an Alternative Provision.

Whether you’re looking to commission Alternative Provision, set up a new provision or simply understand how Alternative Provision works, this guide explains the key principles, legal responsibilities and practical considerations involved.

Why is Alternative Provision important?

Alternative Provision plays a vital role within England’s education system.

Every child has the right to an education that enables them to learn, develop and achieve their potential. However, for some children and young people, mainstream education is not always the right environment at a particular point in their journey.

Alternative Provision provides an opportunity to continue learning while receiving the additional support, flexibility or specialist approach they need.

Children may access Alternative Provision for many reasons, including:

• medical needs
• anxiety or mental health difficulties
• risk of exclusion
• permanent exclusion
• special educational needs
• social, emotional or behavioural needs
• difficulties engaging with mainstream education

Whatever the reason, the aim should always be to improve outcomes for the child or young person.

For some learners, success means returning to mainstream education. For others, it means developing the confidence, skills and qualifications needed to move successfully into college, apprenticeships or employment.

Do Alternative Provisions need to be Ofsted registered?

Whether an Alternative Provision needs to register with Ofsted depends on how it operates.

Some providers are legally required to register as independent schools, while others can operate without registration because they provide part-time education or services that do not meet the legal threshold for registration.

Generally, registration is required where a provider educates:

• five or more pupils of compulsory school age full-time; or
• one or more looked-after children or pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) full-time.

Understanding these requirements before opening an Alternative Provision is essential.

Providers who are unsure whether registration is required should seek advice early rather than risk operating unlawfully.

Even where registration is not required, providers are still expected to demonstrate strong safeguarding arrangements, effective leadership and high-quality educational practice.

Continue reading: Do Alternative Provisions Need to Be Ofsted Registered?

How do you set up an Alternative Provision?

Establishing an Alternative Provision requires much more than finding suitable premises and employing staff.

Successful providers begin by developing a clear vision for the children and young people they want to support before putting the systems in place that allow that vision to become reality.

This includes considering:

• governance
• safeguarding
• safer recruitment
• staffing
• curriculum
• quality assurance
• premises
• insurance
• policies
• commissioning

Strong foundations help create safer, more sustainable provision that schools and commissioners can trust.

What legal responsibilities do Alternative Provisions have?

Every Alternative Provision has legal responsibilities for safeguarding, health and safety and the welfare of children and young people.

Depending on how the provision operates, additional statutory responsibilities may also apply.

Schools commissioning Alternative Provision expect providers to demonstrate that safeguarding is embedded within the culture of the organisation rather than existing simply as written policies.

This includes safer recruitment, staff training, appropriate risk assessments, clear reporting procedures and effective quality assurance.

Strong leadership ensures these responsibilities become everyday practice.

What premises are required for Alternative Provision?

The environment children learn in matters.

Alternative Provision premises should be safe, welcoming and appropriate for the needs of the learners using them.

Schools and commissioners increasingly expect providers to demonstrate that premises are:

• safe and secure
• well maintained
• suitable for learning
• appropriately equipped
• accessible where required

Providers registering as independent schools must also meet additional premises standards before registration is granted.

Continue reading: Premises Requirements for Alternative Provision: What Providers Need to Know.

How do schools choose Alternative Provision?

Choosing Alternative Provision involves much more than finding an available placement.

Schools remain responsible for the pupils they commission and therefore need confidence that providers deliver safe, high-quality education.

Increasingly, schools consider:

• safeguarding culture
• leadership
• quality assurance
• learner outcomes
• communication
• attendance
• behaviour support
• independent reviews

The strongest providers are open about how they work and willingly share evidence that demonstrates the quality of their provision.

Why does quality assurance matter in Alternative Provision?

Quality assurance is about much more than preparing for inspection.

It provides leaders with confidence that safeguarding is effective, teaching remains high quality and learners continue making progress.

Regular review helps providers identify strengths, address emerging concerns and demonstrate continuous improvement to schools and commissioners.

The strongest Alternative Provisions don’t wait for someone else to identify areas for improvement.

They build quality assurance into the everyday life of the organisation.

Continue reading: What Is Quality Assurance in Alternative Provision?

From Our Experience

The strongest Alternative Provision providers don’t simply meet minimum expectations.

They continually reflect on their practice, invite independent challenge and ask how they can improve the experiences and outcomes of the children and young people they support.

Schools and commissioners increasingly value providers who can demonstrate not only compliance but a genuine commitment to continuous improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Alternative Provisions need Ofsted registration?

Registration depends on how your provision operates. Providers delivering full-time education to certain groups of pupils are likely to require registration as an independent school.

Can Alternative Provision be delivered part time?

Yes. Many Alternative Provision placements are delivered on a part-time basis alongside a pupil remaining on the roll of their mainstream school.

Do teachers need Qualified Teacher Status?

Not always. This depends on the type of provision and whether registration as an independent school is required. However, all staff should have the appropriate skills, experience and safeguarding knowledge for their role.

Who commissions Alternative Provision?

Alternative Provision is commonly commissioned by schools, academy trusts and local authorities, depending on the needs of the learner.

How long does it take to establish an Alternative Provision?

Timescales vary depending on the type of provision being established. Providers requiring Ofsted registration should allow additional time to meet the Independent School Standards before opening.

How can Jarvis Education help?

Whether you’re establishing a new Alternative Provision, preparing for commissioning or looking to strengthen existing practice, we’re here to provide practical, independent support.

Our independent reviews and audits help providers evaluate safeguarding, leadership, governance and quality assurance, giving leaders greater confidence in their systems and commissioners greater confidence in the quality of their provision.

Above all, we work alongside Alternative Provision leaders to strengthen practice, support continuous improvement and help create the best possible outcomes for the children and young people they serve.

Continue Exploring

• Do Alternative Provisions Need to Be Ofsted Registered?
• What Does Ofsted Look for in an AP Education Audit?
• Alternative Provision Inspection Readiness
• What Should Schools Look for in an Alternative Provision Provider?
• Alternative Provision Quality Assurance Framework
• Premises Requirements for Alternative Provision