Alternative Provision refers to education that a student receives away from their school, arranged by Local Authorities, or by the schools themselves.
The Department for Education (DfE) have issued some guidance about Alternative Provision.
Local Authorities must provide education for children and young people who have been permanently excluded, or who are too ill to attend school for some time. Schools have a duty to provide education for children and young people from the sixth day of a fixed term exclusion. Sometimes, schools also need off-site education to help children and young people to improve their behaviour, or deal with their anxiety. Alternative Provision may be used for the education of these children and young people.
Alternative Provision offers, comprise of a curriculum and approaches that re-engage learners with education, and which meet their needs, as well as helping them to prepare to go back to school or prepare them for adulthood.