Ongoing Expert Support

Consistent, expert guidance when you need it most.

Running an independent school or alternative provision setting—particularly one supporting vulnerable or high-needs learners—means navigating a constantly evolving landscape of regulation, compliance, safeguarding, and operational demands. Yet, many providers don’t have in-house access to experienced educational consultants who understand the full complexity of this environment.

That’s where our Retained Advisory Service comes in.

What is the Retained Advisory Service?

For a fixed monthly fee, your school or setting gains ongoing access to our expert consultants, who are available to provide timely, practical advice across all areas of independent school or AP provision. Whether you're a registered independent school, a non-registered AP setting, or an organisation working towards compliance, we’re here to offer the reassurance and clarity you need—when you need it.

Think of us as your education leadership partner, on call to help with decision-making, compliance queries, strategic planning, and more.

Who Is This Service For?

This service is ideal for:

• Independent schools (existing or newly registered)

• Alternative Provision settings (registered or unregistered)

• Small or standalone providers without internal consultancy capacity

• MATs or organisations overseeing specialist or niche provision

• Start-ups preparing for registration or operational readiness

How Does It Work?

By joining our Retained Advisory Service, you receive:

• Direct access to a named education consultant familiar with your context

• A set number of hours per month for phone, video, or email consultations

• Priority response times for urgent matters

• Ongoing support with compliance, policies, DfE standards, safeguarding, curriculum, leadership, and governance

• Termly check-ins to review progress and plan ahead

• Optional bolt-ons for document reviews, inspection preparation, or bespoke training

We offer flexible packages to suit your needs—whether you're looking for light-touch support or more regular consultancy.

What Can We Help With?

Our advice spans a wide range of areas, including:

• Registration and inspection readiness (DfE, Ofsted, ISI)

• Curriculum design and policy compliance

• Safeguarding and safer recruitment practices

• Governance and leadership responsibilities

• Risk management and quality assurance

• Staffing structures and strategic planning

• Behaviour, attendance, and SEND support strategies

• Navigating new DfE guidance and national AP standards

• Responding to regulatory changes or enforcement action

• Supporting growth, expansion, or changes in provision

We tailor our support to reflect your setting’s unique priorities, stage of development, and local context.

Why Choose a Retainer?

With a retainer in place, you no longer need to wait until a problem arises—or spend valuable time sourcing one-off support at a higher cost. Instead, you’ll have an experienced team on hand, already familiar with your setting, ready to offer proactive advice and reassurance as challenges arise.

This service is about building long-term capacity in your school or AP—not just solving immediate problems, but strengthening your overall approach to compliance, leadership, and quality of education.