Alternative Provision

What is Alternative Provision?

Alternative Provision settings are:

places that provide education for young people who can’t go to a mainstream school.
offsite from the school.

Alternative provision is where:

local authorities arrange education for young people because of exclusion, illness or other reasons. These young people would not otherwise receive an education.
schools arrange education for young people on a fixed-period exclusion.
schools arrange education for young people to improve their behaviour.

You may hear Alternative Provision called AP.

Alternative Provision for young people permanently excluded

Young people who have been permanently excluded could:

Have a managed move to another school
Be enrolled at the Sheffield Inclusion Centre. This is Sheffield's Pupil Referral Unit (PRU).

Speak to the Inclusion and Attendance Team for more information.

More information about school suspensions and permanent exclusions.

Alternative Provision for young people with health needs

Young people who cannot go to school because of a health need may need different support. There is a health/medical Alternative Provision provided by Becton Outreach Education.

You can read more on the advice page for Children who cannot attend school because of health needs.

The Approved Alternative Provision Network

This is a group of settings in Sheffield. They have been checked and quality assured by Sheffield City Council. These can be used for a number of reasons such as:

helping with a young person's behaviour
helping a young person to attend school
helping with a young person's social, emotional and mental health needs
helping a young person to engage in their learning
increasing a young person's confidence and personal development

Schools are encouraged to arrange alternative provision from this network. They don't have to do this. They can arrange placements with other providers. To do this they must carry out checks, for example health and safety and safeguarding.

To download a copy of the brochures, click on the buttons below.

Travelling to alternative provision

Young people must travel independently to get there. If this isn't possible they can be supported by their school to help them travel there.

The Progressions Team

The Progressions Team work with Sheffield schools. They match young people with alternative provision from within their Approved Alternative Provision Framework.

The team meet with young people, school staff and parent/carers. This is so that young people get information and guidance relating to the provision on offer.

The team work with other services. This is known as multi-agency working. This helps to:

support the young people
check attendance and achievements
work to seek solutions to day-to-day problems that may arise

The team oversees contractual compliance and Quality Assurance of provision across Sheffield.

You can contact the team for more information (details at the bottom of the page).

How to make a referral to the team

Referrals to the Progressions Team can only be made by schools.

This is because schools are still responsible for children who are educated offsite.

The school also provides funding for the alternative provision.

The exceptions are Children Missing from Education (CME) or children Educated Other than at School (EOTAS).

*Please contact the team for a referral form.

Name	Job Title	E-mail	Telephone
Daina Cummings	Progressions Team Manager	daina.cummings@sheffield.gov.uk	07753 904637
Emma Wilmer	Placement Support Officer	emma.wilmer@sheffield.gov.uk	07837 915485
Lindsay Smith	Placement Support Officer	lindsay.smith@sheffield.gov.uk	07425 631900
Stephen Reid	Placement Support Officer	stephen.reid@sheffield.gov.uk	07827 308161
Sue Wraith	Placement Support Officer	susan.wraith@sheffield.gov.uk	07833 480528
Keith Johnson	Business Support	keith.johnson@sheffield.gov.uk	0114 205 2481
General inbox	-	ECT@sheffield.gov.uk	-