SEND & Alternative Provision
The children who most need a strong education are too often the ones the system serves least well. Children with special educational…
ExploreSetting Up a New Alternative Provision
Setting up a new alternative provision is one of the most rewarding things you can do, and one of the hardest to get right. The children who will attend deserve the very highest standards from day one, which means getting the foundations right before you open.
We help people set up new alternative provision properly, from first idea to first pupil.
What Is Our Support to Set up a New AP?
It is end-to-end support to set up a new alternative provision, whether registered or non-school. We help you make the fundamental decisions — who you are for, registered or not, your model and curriculum — and get the safeguarding, governance, and quality foundations right before you open.
The aim is a provision that is safe, effective, and sustainable from the start, not one learning hard lessons on real children.
Who Is Our Support to Set up a New AP For?
It is for anyone setting up a new alternative provision — experienced educators, entrepreneurs, charities, and trusts — whether a registered school or a non-school setting. It suits people with the passion and the drive who want to build on solid foundations.
We're here for youNot sure whether this is what you need? Talk it through with us first.
What Does Our Support to Set up a New AP Include?
- Support with the fundamental early decisions
- Guidance on registered versus non-school routes
- Defining your cohort, model, and curriculum
- Getting safeguarding right from the start
- Governance, policies, and paperwork foundations
- Advice on quality assurance and commissioner confidence
- A clear plan to open safely and sustainably
How Does Our Support to Set up a New AP Help Your School, Academy, Trust, or Setting?
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Start on solid ground
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Choose the right route
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Define who you are for
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Get safeguarding right first
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Build the foundations
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Win commissioner confidence
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Open sustainably
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Book a quick, friendly callTwenty minutes with Shaun, our Founder and CEO, to explore how we can help you.
How Our Support to Set up a New AP Works
- 1We talk through your vision and the young people you want to serve.
- 2We help you decide the registered or non-school route.
- 3We plan model, curriculum, safeguarding, and governance.
- 4We help you get the foundations and paperwork right.
- 5We leave you with a clear plan to open safely and well.
What You Get at the End
- Clear answers on route, cohort, and model
- Robust safeguarding from day one
- Governance and foundations in place
- A plan to open safely and sustainably
Arrange a chatTell us your timescale and we'll tell you honestly whether we can meet it.
Key Features of Our Service
Ground-up support
We help you build from first idea to first pupil.
Safeguarding-first
We put robust safeguarding at the foundation, not the end.
Sustainability-minded
We help you build a provision that lasts, not just launches.
Why Choose Jarvis Education?
We work only in education and have supported new provisions from the ground up. Our support helps you set up a new alternative provision on solid foundations — the right route, robust safeguarding, sound governance, and commissioner confidence — so it is safe, effective, and sustainable for the children who will depend on it.
Next Steps & How to Get Started
- Speak to us about the provision you want to create.
- We help you make the key decisions and build the foundations.
- Contact us today to set up your new AP well.
Who We Work With
We support settings of every type across England and internationally.
More SEND & alternative provision services
ServiceWhole-School SEND ReviewIndependent whole-school SEND reviews for schools, academies, trusts and APs. Check provision, identification and impact against the SEND…ServiceNon-School Alternative Provision Standards SupportIt is support to help non-school (unregistered) alternative providers meet the government's voluntary national standards for non-school AP.ServiceRegistering an Alternative ProvisionRegistering an alternative provision support for schools, academies, trusts and APs. Practical, independent support from experienced education consultants.ServicePRU & AP Academy Improvement SupportImprovement support for pupil referral units and AP academies. Leadership, curriculum, safeguarding and outcomes support from AP specialists.
Ready to make a change?
We are only a message away. Contact us today and find out how we could help your school or trust to excel.
Talk to us about Setting Up a New Alternative Provision
Leave your details and Shaun, our Founder and CEO, will get back to you. No pressure, no obligation, just a friendly chat.
- A response within two working days, guaranteed
- You speak to our Founder and CEO, nobody else
- Initial conversations are always free
Say hello
Just a few details and Shaun will be in touch.
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