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: 27 June 2016 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Alternative provision

Ref: DFE-300-2013

PDF, 242 KB, 14 pages

Details

This statutory guidance is for:

• headteachers
• local authorities
• governing bodies

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

• schools maintained by the local authority
• academies and free schools
• pupil referral units (PRUs)

AP settings are places that provide education for children who can’t go to a mainstream school.

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

Read the ‘DfE intervention powers in pupil referral units’ document for details of changes coming into force on 27 June 2016.

Statutory guidance sets out what schools and local authorities must do to comply with the law. You should follow the guidance unless you have a very good reason not to.

Published 10 January 2013
Last updated 27 June 2016 + show all updates

1. 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.

2. 10 January 2013

   First published.