My child needs more specialist education - What is available?

Alternative Education is a term used to refer to learning and support offered primarily outside of School that is deemed to be an intervention aimed at helping ‘turn around pupils before they become disengaged with their education’ and will ‘deliver appropriate educational progress’.

Tees Alternative Education Framework - Tees Alternative Education Directory

A joint Tees quality assurance Alternative Education Provision framework is now available to be used by staff from Schools, academies including AP Academies and specialist providers including the Council’s own specialist teams.  It offers a variety of quality assured alternative provision that meets the Department of Education’s statutory requirements and definition of good quality alternative provision.  This readily accessible source of information will ensure staff are able to respond quickly and appropriately to arising needs to provide alternative types of learning and support for young people in Redcar and Cleveland.

The Services under this Framework will be commissioned directly by the Schools, Academies, SEN Service, Pupil Referral Unit, Education Service and Virtual Schools.   The cost will be met directly by Schools, Academies and Specialist Providers including the Pupil Referral Unit. 

Middlesbrough Borough Council (Acting as Lead), Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Darlington Borough Council have jointly established a framework agreement for Alternative education provision in line with the Department of Education Alternative Provision Statutory Guidance.  Alternative Education provision under the Framework is for young people up to the age of sixteen years. 

Providers awarded a place on this framework are either a School registered to provide alternative education or an unregistered Provider that offers alternative provision.

The Tees Alternative Provision Directory provides a list of organisations who have been successful in gaining a place on the Tees Alternative Provision Framework. The service specification and framework contract are available on request if required.

Types of provision on this framework include: - full time provision, revolving door packages provided for a fixed period of time with the aim of securing access to mainstream provision either through reintegration or transition to a new school, part time provision and preventative programmes aimed at preventing exclusion.

The provision is aimed at children and young people: -

  • At risk of exclusion from school; or
  • Excluded from school on a fixed term basis; or
  • At risk of disengaging from mainstream education and/;or
  • Require additional support during a negotiated transfer between mainstream schools; or
  • Otherwise require alternative education provision to meet their educational entitlement, for instance in line with an Education, Health and Care Plan or is a Looked after Child with no school place.
  • The framework is divided into six Lots (categories) as follows:

LOT 1 (Primary)

Primary (KS1 and KS2) – Alternative Provision (Education) Service - must provide education with a focus on achieving KS1 and KS2 outcomes to ensure that pupils are ready to make a successful transition into Secondary education.

LOT 2 (Primary)

Day 6 Exclusion (KS1 – KS2) - Alternative Provision (Education) Service – must provide education from day six for any pupil who has a permanent exclusion from their mainstream School and can register a child onto their School roll, so that they can continue with their education with the minimum of disruption.

LOT 3 (Secondary)

Secondary (KS3 and KS4) - Alternative Provision (Education) Service - must provide education with a focus on achieving academic qualifications (GCSE or alternatives) to ensure that pupils are ready to make a successful transition into post 16 education or training.

LOT 4 (Secondary)

Day 6 Exclusion (KS3 – KS4)- Alternative Provision (Education) Service – must provide education from day six for any pupil who has a permanent exclusion from their mainstream School, and can register a child onto their School roll, so that they can continue with their education with the minimum of disruption.

LOT 5 (Primary and Secondary)

Medical and Therapeutic (KS1 – KS4) – Alternative Provision (Education) Service - must provide education for pupils who have been prevented from attending their mainstream School as a result of medical needs. These may be physical, emotional or psychological.

LOT 6 (Primary and Secondary)

Alternative Curriculum and Enrichment Service – must provide a creative and alternative programme that enhances or provides an alternative curriculum for KS1 – 4 pupils.  The service will provide tailored support for pupils who are disengaged with learning in the classroom or face challenges with the pace of a classroom curriculum. 

School / Academy Statutory Obligations

This framework does not remove or affect any of the statutory obligations and duties upon schools /academies in relation to the provision of education or the exclusion of children / young people from school. Any child or young person placed either full or part time in alternative education provision, remains on the roll of that school / academy and responsibility for delivering the full time education and all other duties in respect of that child remain with the school with the exception of Lots 2 and 4. Specifically the commissioning school / academy remains responsible for monitoring and tracking the progress of individual children / young people and confirming that the provision is of good quality, value for money and meets the needs of the child / young person.

The Provider Framework will be subject to a refresh process as and when Commissioners feel necessary to allow new providers to join the framework and widen the range of alternative education provision available.

It is expected that this framework will be used by schools’ academies and specialist Providers, including the council’s own specialist teams.

The Referral process is detailed in the document 

. A Referral Form and Risk Assessment (Appendix A) must be completed by the purchaser for each individual pupil detailing the purchaser’s requirements and be sent directly to the Provider, contact details can be found under each provision listed in this document.