Statutory guidance

Alternative provision

Statutory guidance for local authorities, as well as headteachers and governing bodies of settings providing alternative provision.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 10 January 2013
• Last updated: 5 February 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Alternative provision

Ref: DFE-300-2013

PDF, 517 KB, 38 pages

Details

This statutory guidance is for:

• headteachers
• local authorities
• governing bodies
• academy trusts

It applies to all educational settings providing alternative provision (AP):

• schools maintained by the local authority
• academies and free schools
• pupil referral units (PRUs)
• further education colleges
• independent providers that deliver alternative provision

This guidance covers the use of AP where:

• local authorities arrange education for pupils who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not otherwise receive suitable education
• schools arrange education for pupils on a fixed-period exclusion
• schools arrange education for pupils to improve their behaviour off-site

Statutory guidance on responsibilities relating to schools and PRUs which require support or intervention is available at Support and intervention in schools.

Statutory guidance sets out what schools and local authorities must do to comply with the law.

Published 10 January 2013
Last updated 5 February 2025 + show all updates

1. 5 February 2025

   Updated guidance to reflect changes in related policies and added sections on unregistered alternative provision and use of in-school units.

2. 27 June 2016

   Added a link to the 'DfE intervention powers in pupil referral units judged inadequate by Ofsted' document, which sets out changes coming into force on 27 June 2016.

3. 10 January 2013

   First published.