Awaiting Placement
Structured education while a school, specialist setting or longer-term placement is being identified.
ALTERNATIVE PROVISION FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Commissioned Alternative Provision Built Around the Individual Learner
Reconnect Learning provides personalised alternative provision for local authorities commissioning education for children and young people who cannot currently access their usual school or education setting successfully.
Individual packages can combine academic tuition, SEND-informed teaching, engagement, wellbeing, life skills, mentoring, qualification support and reintegration planning, with safeguarding, attendance and progress reporting built into delivery.
COMMISSIONED AP AT A GLANCE
Provision may support learners who are:
Awaiting a suitable education placement
Experiencing persistent absence or EBSNA
At risk of exclusion or following placement breakdown
Requiring SEND or EHCP-informed education
Accessing a reduced or alternative timetable
Preparing for reintegration or another positive destination
Delivery
1:1 Personalised
Education
Academic Continuity
Inclusion
SEND & EHCP Aware
Evidence
Commissioner Reporting
Practice
Safeguarding-Led
PERSONALISED ALTERNATIVE PROVISION
A provision package should respond to why mainstream access has broken down
Alternative provision is most effective when it has a clear purpose. A learner may need academic continuity while awaiting placement, support to re-engage after absence, a SEND-informed timetable or a structured pathway towards reintegration.
Reconnect Learning works from the learner's current circumstances, strengths, needs, risks and intended outcomes rather than applying one standard AP timetable to every referral.
Our AP Principle
Alternative provision should be an intentional education pathway with measurable outcomes — not simply somewhere for a learner to spend time away from school.
LEARNER COHORTS
Commissioned provision for learners with different barriers to education
EBSNA & Persistent Absence
Personalised education where emotional or other barriers are significantly affecting attendance.
SEND & EHCP Learners
Adapted provision informed by identified needs, professional advice and relevant agreed outcomes.
Placement Breakdown
Education continuity following the breakdown of a mainstream, specialist or alternative placement.
Exclusion & Exclusion Risk
Personalised education and engagement where a learner has been excluded or their existing placement is unstable.
Reduced Timetables
Additional provision around a part-time timetable where wider educational access needs strengthening.
Medical & Health Needs
Flexible education where health needs affect access to the learner's usual setting.
SEMH & Disengagement
Relationship-led education where confidence, regulation or engagement has significantly reduced.
Transition & Reintegration
Shorter-term provision while preparing for increased participation in another suitable education setting.
WHAT A PERSONALISED PACKAGE MAY INCLUDE
Academic education and wider support within one coordinated plan
The balance of provision is agreed according to the learner's starting point, needs, commissioned hours and intended outcomes.
1:1 personalised tuition
English and Maths
GCSE support
Functional Skills
Online learning
SEND-informed teaching
EBSNA support
Mentoring
Mental health and wellbeing
Life skills and independence
Careers and aspirations
Preparation for adulthood
Learner voice
Reintegration planning
Progress and outcome reporting
FLEXIBLE DELIVERY
Provision can be designed around the learner's current circumstances
1:1 Alternative Provision
Individual tuition and support where personalised delivery is required.
Home-Based Provision
Education in an agreed home setting following suitability and risk assessment.
Online Provision
Live structured remote tuition where online education is suitable for the learner.
Outreach Provision
Education or mentoring delivered in an agreed community or alternative setting.
Mixed Delivery
A combination of home, online, outreach and other agreed education arrangements.
Time-Limited AP
Structured provision supporting a learner towards placement, reintegration or another next step.
COMMISSIONING & PLACEMENT PROCESS
A clear route from referral to reviewed placement
1
Refer
Share learner need, risk and outcomes.
2
Review
Assess suitability, SEND and safeguarding.
3
Plan
Agree hours, delivery, targets and reporting.
4
Match
Identify appropriate staff and expertise.
5
Mobilise
Complete risk, briefing and setup.
6
Review
Evaluate progress and next steps.
BEFORE PROVISION BEGINS
Clear mobilisation supports safer and more effective delivery
Information From the Commissioner
Current information helps us understand the learner and plan the placement appropriately.
Reason for referral
Current education status
Attendance and placement history
Safeguarding and risk information
SEND profile and EHCP information
Academic starting points
Communication and medical needs
Current professionals and agencies
Arrangements Agreed Before Start
The commissioner and provider should have a shared understanding of how the placement will operate.
Commissioned hours and timetable
Location and delivery model
Intended outcomes
Named professional contacts
Safeguarding escalation routes
Attendance procedures
Reporting and review frequency
Transition or end-of-placement planning
TUTOR & MENTOR MATCHING
Matching considers the whole learner — not only the subject
For many learners in alternative provision, the quality of the relationship is central to successful engagement. Staff matching therefore considers both education requirements and the wider learner profile.
Specialist skills and experience remain subject to availability and are confirmed before the relevant provision is commissioned.
Matching may consider:
Subject and curriculum expertise
SEND and SEMH experience
EBSNA and engagement experience
Communication needs
Learner age and educational stage
Interests and relational fit
Location and availability
Risk and safeguarding considerations
COMMISSIONER REPORTING
Clear evidence of attendance, engagement and progress
Attendance
Attendance, punctuality, cancellations and access against the commissioned timetable.
Engagement
Participation, communication, task completion and tolerance of educational activity.
Academic Progress
Progress from starting points across agreed curriculum or qualification priorities.
Wellbeing & Confidence
Where relevant, changes in confidence, routine, regulation and readiness to learn.
Learner Voice
The learner's experience, views and identified barriers can contribute to review.
Outcome Progress
Progress against the objectives agreed at the start of the commissioned placement.
Safeguarding & Risk
Relevant concerns and changing risks communicated through agreed professional routes.
Placement Stability
Factors affecting participation, continuation or suitability can be monitored.
Next Steps
Recommendations around continuation, step-down, transition, reintegration or other provision.
SAFEGUARDING & QUALITY ASSURANCE
Professional controls around commissioned alternative provision
Safeguarding
Designated safeguarding leadership, recording, reporting and escalation arrangements.
Safeguarding →Safer Recruitment
Role-appropriate vetting, references, identity checks and induction.
Policies & Compliance →Risk Assessment
Learner, venue, home, online, activity and lone-working considerations where relevant.
Staff Briefing
Relevant outcomes, needs, risk and safeguarding information shared before delivery.
Delivery Monitoring
Attendance, engagement, progress and professional communication support oversight of placements.
Practice Review
Quality checks may include observations, file review, feedback and support for improvement.
Complaints
Defined processes support professional handling of concerns and complaints.
Policies & Compliance →Data Protection
Learner information is handled for agreed education, safeguarding and commissioning purposes.
Commissioner Communication
Named communication routes support timely escalation and contract oversight.
INTENDED OUTCOMES
Alternative provision should create visible movement forward
Education Access
More consistent participation in an agreed form of education.
Attendance
Improved access and participation in the commissioned timetable.
Academic Progress
Progress in agreed English, Maths, GCSE or Functional Skills priorities.
Engagement
Greater willingness to communicate, participate and attempt learning.
Confidence
Improved self-belief and tolerance of educational challenge.
Independence
Development of communication, organisation and practical skills.
Reintegration
Progress towards increased participation in a suitable education setting.
Positive Destination
Transition to school, college, training, employment or another agreed pathway.
Alternative provision and statutory responsibility
Reconnect Learning delivers the commissioned education and support agreed for the individual placement. The local authority, school or another responsible body retains statutory responsibilities that have not been lawfully transferred.
This may include responsibilities relating to education planning, attendance, safeguarding oversight, SEND decision-making, EHCP review, placement, examination entry, access arrangements, health provision and social-care assessment.
A referral does not automatically confirm acceptance or an immediate start. Provision remains subject to suitability, safeguarding, risk, staffing, specialist availability, location and commissioning arrangements.
LOCAL AUTHORITY ALTERNATIVE PROVISION FAQs
Questions commissioners often ask
Can alternative provision be commissioned for one learner?
Yes. Reconnect Learning can provide an individual package with agreed hours, delivery arrangements, outcomes and reporting.
Can provision be delivered 1:1?
Yes. Much of the Reconnect Learning alternative provision offer can be delivered on a personalised 1:1 basis where suitable.
Can alternative provision take place at home?
Yes, where home-based tuition is suitable, risk assessed and included within the agreed commissioned arrangement.
Can online learning form part of an AP package?
Yes. Live online tuition can form part of a blended or remote package where the learner can access it safely and effectively.
Can provision support a learner with an EHCP?
Yes. Relevant SEND needs, professional advice and agreed EHCP outcomes can inform the programme where the commissioned service is suitable.
Can academic tuition and mentoring be combined?
Yes. Academic learning can be combined with mentoring, wellbeing, life skills, careers or reintegration support where these form part of agreed outcomes.
How quickly can provision begin?
Timescales depend on referral completeness, suitability, safeguarding and risk review, staff availability and commissioning approval.
What reporting do local authorities receive?
Reporting can include attendance, engagement, academic progress, learner voice, wellbeing, risk information, outcome progress and next-step recommendations.
Can Reconnect Learning attend professional reviews?
Where agreed within the commissioned service, Reconnect Learning can contribute relevant education and progress information to professional review meetings.
Can alternative provision support reintegration?
Yes. A package can include preparation for transition or reintegration into school, another placement or a different positive educational destination.
Does Reconnect Learning guarantee placement or reintegration outcomes?
No. Reconnect Learning supports progress towards agreed outcomes, but decisions and results influenced by other settings or statutory bodies cannot be guaranteed.
Does submitting a referral guarantee acceptance?
No. Every referral is reviewed for suitability, safeguarding, risk, staffing and whether the proposed model can appropriately meet the learner's needs.