What is an alternative provision school?
Education is not one-size-fits-all. Many students thrive in traditional school settings, but others struggle due to various reasons, including behavioural issues, special educational needs, mental health challenges, or personal circumstances. This is where alternative provision (AP) schools step in, offering tailored educational solutions to meet the diverse needs of these students.
Alternative provision schools explained
Alternative provision schools are educational institutions designed to provide a suitable learning environment for students who cannot attend mainstream schools. These schools cater to students who, for various reasons, find it difficult to cope with the traditional school setting. They offer specialized programs that address individual learning needs, behavioural issues, and emotional challenges, ensuring every student receives a quality education.
Alternative provision can take several different forms. These include physical units that resemble traditional schools but offer more individualised attention; specialised vocational centers that provide practical, hands-on training and skills development in specific vocational areas; and online schools like Academy21, which offer flexible, personalised learning through digital platforms.
There are also hybrid models where students attend two different schools and receive a mixture of in-person learning and online AP, and Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) dedicated to students at risk of exclusion. Additionally, some alternative provision schools may cater to students with specific conditions, such as a medical need, and deliver education through hospital or home tuition.
Key characteristics of an alternative provision school
1. Tailored curriculum, delivered by specialised staff
Alternative provision often offers a flexible and personalized curriculum that caters to the unique needs of each student. This may include a focus on vocational training, in-depth, condensed courses for those with learning gaps, life and study skills, and core academic subjects that prepare students for specific exams. The goal is to enable students to develop a range of competencies and to support them in following their passions and personal development.
Plus, alternative provision teaching, and non-teaching staff are often highly trained in dealing with educational and behavioural challenges. This expertise enables them to create effective strategies to engage students and promote positive outcomes. Alternative provision schools, including all personnel and leadership, also follow strict safeguarding rules, which are reviewed often and are essential to protecting students and ensuring they can grow and learn in a safe environment.
2. Small class sizes
In traditional schools in the UK, the average class size is 26.6 students per class. With so many students in one classroom setting, the attention a teacher can provide to each student is inevitably limited. From budget constraints to the lack of physical space needed to break students into smaller but more groups, various barriers impede schools from reducing their class sizes.
One of the defining features of alternative provision schools is small class sizes that enable more individualised attention from teachers and support staff. In these schoolteachers can communicate more frequently and effectively with their students, understand their strengths, weaknesses, and concerns, and create a supportive learning environment that considers these.
3. Holistic support
The number of students experiencing mental health challenges is growing, with NHS Digital estimating that 20.3% of 8–16-year-olds have a probable mental disorder. Schools in the UK are required to provide wellbeing support for their pupils, and government funds are available to support this implementation. As of November 2023, around 400 Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) were operating in schools and colleges, covering approximately 35% of pupils.
But what happens in schools that may not have access to funds, specialised personnel, or the capacity to deliver tailored academic and wellbeing support to each student? Alternative provision can help traditional schools here.
Beyond academics, they provide wellbeing support, which may include mental health services, counselling, and social skills training. This comprehensive approach helps address the underlying issues that may affect a student’s ability to learn and their mental health.
Benefits of an alternative provision school
1. Personalised learning
Alternative provision schools excel in providing personalised learning experiences. By understanding each students’ strengths, weaknesses, and interests, teachers can tailor their teaching to maximize engagement and achievement. Plus, these schools often include practical skills or vocational training, preparing students for life beyond school. This focus on real-world applications helps students gain the skills and confidence needed for employment or further education.
2. Improved behaviour and attendance
Students who struggle in traditional settings often significantly improve their behaviour and attendance when placed in alternative provision. The supportive environment and individualised attention help students feel more valued and understood. For example, this spring term at Academy21 we have seen over 40 students from schools across the UK with zero prior attendance now attend lessons with Academy21. We have also had over 250 students join us with persistent absence levels, who are now no longer persistently absent.
3. Cost-effectiveness
Engaging alternative provision services can be a more cost-effective solution than investing in building out these services within your own school. Often, to provide dedicated support to students, schools would need to hire new specialised staff, invest in technological tools, or even change their own infrastructure.
Alternative provision schools, particularly online alternative provision specialists like Academy21, offer a solution that is ready to deploy, with flexible contracts too. Plus, by addressing your students’ needs early through early intervention, you could avoid issues like school exclusions or further disruptions, leading to long-term cost savings.
4. Flexibility
Alternative provision schools – particularly those that are fully online – are adaptable to the school’s needs. For example, Academy21 offers a flexible schedule with class recordings, so students never miss out on learning. We also work closely with schools to organise a timetable that best suits their students’ needs and commitments and maximises their engagement in class.
Because of the nature of being online, classes can be accessed from where students are located, making it easier to attend and saving time for revisions, study, and other school and personal commitments.
Challenges that traditional alternative provision schools are facing
There can be a stigma associated with attending alternative provision, with some viewing it as a last resort for students who may be struggling. This misunderstanding can affect students’ self-perception and acceptance in the broader community, and it can also prevent parents from embracing this new journey and supporting their child through it.
As one of our parent’s puts it “nobody ever thinks about not going to a mainstream school” however, taking an alternative path can be the perfect solution: “It was amazing once she started, just to know that she had somebody interested in her, in her education, you could see she was learning, she was moving forward and it was just uplifting to see her back in education.”
Generally, alternative provision schools are also limited in terms of the flexibility they offer because they operate in a physical environment that requires travelling to and from the location. This adds another challenge to students who may already feel overwhelmed by current schoolwork and life circumstances. The situation becomes even more difficult if there is no alternative provision school nearby.
Plus, not all students are happy to meet face-to-face or comfortable being in a classroom with other peers, even if classes are smaller and more personalised. Online alternative provision can be an effective way to cover the gaps that traditional AP schools are currently facing, providing a fully flexible set-up where students can attend classes from their school or from the comfort of their home.
Everything is online, so onboarding is easy and can be done within two working days. At Academy21, all classes are recorded, so if students need to miss a class due to a doctor’s appointment or another urgent commitment, they can watch the lesson as soon as it is convenient and never miss out on their learning.
Plus, online alternative provision offers a smooth journey to reintegration by seamlessly embedding online classes and support into current school schedules. Whether students are full-time at Academy21 or following a hybrid learning model, it’s easier to flex up or down and slowly and, most importantly, effectively reintegrate students into the mainstream classroom if that is possible for them.
There is always an alternative
Alternative provision schools play a crucial role in the educational ecosystem by offering tailored support to students who face challenges in mainstream education. With many students in the alternative provision system, it is essential to recognise and support the diverse markets within this sector.
Academy21 offers an innovative approach to alternative provision by harnessing the power of online to create flexible, accessible, and effective learning experiences. As we continue to evolve our educational systems, it is worth considering the innovative services that are out there, readily available to effectively support students and help them succeed.
If you are interested in hearing more about Academy21 or referring a student, contact our friendly team below.
