Alternative Provision – Onsite

Between 2018 and 2020, the Norwich Opportunity Area team worked with a number of external providers to offer funded offsite Alternative Provision for both primary and secondary age pupils who had been identified as being at risk of exclusion.  This provision was offered for 1 day a week for a 6 week period but outcomes for children undertaking this short-term provision varied.

The cost was not sustainable in the long-term and feedback from schools suggested that removing pupils from class and from their peer group from both a practical and emotional stance was challenging.  It was also disruptive to their flow of learning.

The pandemic increased the number of pupils with identified SEMH needs and it was felt that Alternative Provision placed within schools that made use of the schools’ wider wrap-around support would be beneficial.

The NOA organised an introductory online workshop for schools interested in setting up AP in their schools.  This was split between primary and secondary with outside speakers sharing examples of their already established provisions from both within the area and from other areas in the country.

An application process, incorporating the Theory of Change model was created and schools were invited, with support if required, to apply for funding for their provision.  Impartial moderation panels considered the applications, providing useful feedback for unsuccessful schools in order that a decision, where practical, could be deferred.

12 new AP approaches at primary phase were established across 15 primary schools in Norwich and 4 secondary schools developed new approaches to in house AP.

The introductory sessions for interested schools worked well with positive feedback in relation to hearing from schools who already had provision and being available for Q’s & A’s.  Attendance, due to COVID was not as high as expected, even though the session was online, as staff were covering for absences.  This did mean that some schools initially missed out.  The solution was to provide more provide more rounds of funding and where appropriate to do so, offer  one to one visits by the NOA Project Manager to help with applications and ensure that all relevant information and the TOC was completed.

A reduction in behaviour incidents in schools was key and reflected within the stage reports received from schools.  The setup of onsite Alternative Provision in schools has provided additional CPD for school staff, equipping them with the expertise needed for them to be run confidently with staff equipped with the necessary skills in approaches that are new to them.

Schools (and the local authority where this is relevant) will experience a reduction in expense such as using an external AP provider to support at risk students and associated transport costs.

Schools report that classroom learning is less disrupted and there is a reduced need for 1:1 supervision in the classroom.