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

Our directory of alternative provision providers can be found here.

Author

Department for Education

Identifier

Statutory Guidance

Date Published

Updated June 2016