Strengthening protections in unregistered alternative provision

Closed 5 Jul 2024

Opened 9 May 2024

Overview

The Department for Education is consulting on proposals to strengthen protections for children in unregistered alternative provision settings.

This consultation is the next step in delivering on the government’s commitment to improving experiences and outcomes for children in unregistered alternative provision and builds on the findings from our previous Call for Evidence “Understanding the Use of Unregistered Alternative Provision”, the findings of which have helped shape this consultation.

We are seeking views on proposals which position unregistered alternative provision as an intervention, not a destination, to complement education in school.

We propose that all unregistered alternative provision will be subject to new proportionate quality assurance frameworks, underpinned by national standards.

We believe that, if implemented, this approach will deliver a balanced and proportionate pathway to protect the children that this diverse sector supports and educates.

 

Why your views matter

The findings from this consultation will help us take the necessary steps to improve the use, quality and oversight of unregistered alternative provision. 

Audiences

  • Academies (including free schools), voluntary aided schools, voluntary controlled schools, foundation schools and community schools
  • Adoptive parents
  • Adult and mental health practitioners
  • Bodies representing schools and local authorities
  • CAMHS
  • Clinical commissioning groups
  • Community representatives
  • Designated safeguarding leads
  • Directors of children's services
  • Educational Psychologists
  • Employers
  • Foster carers
  • Governing bodies and academy trusts
  • Government bodies and departments
  • Governors
  • Headteachers
  • Health visitors
  • Independent specialist colleges
  • Local authorities
  • Parents
  • Principle social workers
  • Pupils
  • School business managers
  • School nurses
  • School support staff
  • SENCOs
  • Service managers
  • Social workers
  • Social workers
  • Teachers
  • Team managers
  • Those evaluating programmes for children in need
  • Those involved in underlying theoretical research on abuse and neglect, child development etc
  • Those researching children’s social care or education systems, with links to educational outcomes of Children in Need
  • Training providers
  • Unions and representative organisations
  • Virtual school heads
  • Volunteers
  • Young people

Interests

  • Academies
  • Accountability
  • Admissions
  • Advocacy (Looked after children)
  • Alternative provision
  • Attendance and absence
  • Behaviour and discipline
  • Care leavers and former looked-after children
  • Careers guidance
  • Disabled children
  • Education
  • Equality
  • Establishing maintained schools
  • Financial support (Looked after children)
  • Friends and family care
  • Governance
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Health and wellbeing (Looked after children)
  • Intervention
  • Keeping children safe in education and other settings
  • Key stage 1
  • Key stage 2
  • National Curriculum
  • Participation of young people in education, employment and training
  • Performance tables
  • Planning
  • Preventing neglect, abuse and exploitation
  • Procurement for schools
  • Programmes and initiatives (Looked after children)
  • Pupil data
  • Pupil place planning
  • Raising the participation age
  • Safeguarding disabled children
  • School and academy funding
  • School funding reform
  • SEND code of practice
  • Social workers' standards
  • Statutory policies and guidance
  • Sufficiency
  • Support in education
  • Teachers' standards
  • Teaching and learning (SEND)
  • Training and development
  • Travel to school and colleges