TO BE PUBLISHED July 2026
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This conference will consider next steps for alternative provision in England, following publication of the Every child achieving and thriving white paper and the Government’s consultation on special educational needs and disabilities reform. Areas for discussion will include the future role and use of alternative provision within the wider school system, improving quality and oversight, and supporting positive educational and post‑16 outcomes for pupils educated outside mainstream settings.
Commissioning, oversight & quality of provision
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss implementation of proposals set out in the white paper, including approaches to improving quality, accountability, and data collection across the AP system.
Delegates will consider practical questions around commissioning, system oversight and how collaboration between schools, local authorities, and other services can best support timely access to high‑quality provision for pupils with complex needs. Areas for discussion include the role of AP free schools, local authority commissioning, and options for regional co-ordination of budgets and placements, including approaches to regional commissioning.
Access to provision, reintegration pathways & joined-up services
Further discussion will focus on improving access to provision and addressing disparities between areas, approaches to short-term placements for assessments, and continuity of education across settings. Discussion will assess priorities for effective reintegration pathways between AP and mainstream schools, including early intervention, shared resources, and collaboration between settings, alongside the rollout of expert-at-hand services, specialist taskforces, and co-ordinated interventions across education, health, and care services.
Accountability, workforce development & post-16 progression
Sessions will also assess priorities for improving system accountability and pupil outcomes, including approaches to tracking movement across different types of provision, monitoring attendance, attainment, and destinations, and developing clearer standards for inclusion and performance across AP and mainstream settings. Workforce development will be considered, including latest thinking on recruitment and retention, alongside strategies for supporting collaboration and the development of expertise.
Delegates will examine post-16 pathways, including progression into further education, training, and employment, and the role of initiatives such as the Youth Guarantee and Jobs Guarantee in supporting progression and outcomes.
Overview of areas for discussion
- policy:
- priorities arising from the Every child achieving and thriving white paper - early findings from the SEND reform consultation
- sequencing implementation across local authorities, schools and specialist providers
- system oversight:
- regulation, accountability and quality assurance in alternative provision, including unregistered provision - monitoring pupil outcomes and placements
- responsibilities across schools, trusts and local authorities
- access to provision:
- availability of high‑quality AP places - role of AP free schools and local authority commissioning - addressing regional disparities and reliance on unregistered provision
- commissioning models:
- options for regional commissioning arrangements and shared budgets - coordinating placements across neighbouring authorities - ensuring sustainable provision and equitable access
- reintegration pathways:
- effective reintegration planning between AP and mainstream schools - individual action plans for pupils - preventing long‑term separation from mainstream education
- collaboration with mainstream schools:
- strengthening links between mainstream schools and AP providers - expert‑at‑hand services and outreach support - sharing expertise and early intervention strategies
- Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce pilot outcomes - expansion of Mental Health Support Teams
- support for vulnerable pupils:
- provision for pupils with SEND or social, emotional and mental health needs and those at risk of exclusion - short‑term placements for assessment
- tiered interventions across mainstream and AP settings - parental engagement in decision-making processes
- data & accountability:
- improving collection and use of data on attendance, progress, attainment and destinations - clear performance indicators
- development of National Inclusion Standards by 2028 - expectations for annual review processes
- workforce capacity:
- recruitment and retention of specialist staff in AP settings - professional development for complex behavioural and learning needs - workload implications of increased collaboration
- post‑16 progression:
- pathways from alternative provision into FE, apprenticeships and employment - role of initiatives such as the Youth Guarantee and Jobs Guarantee
- work readiness and independence - supporting access to work experience placements
