Alternative Provision

What is Alternative Provision?

Alternative Provision (AP) is education arranged for children and young people who are unable to attend a mainstream school because it is not currently meeting their needs. This may be due to Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), including learning needs, as well as health, anxiety, behaviour, exclusion, or social and emotional difficulties. Alternative Provision ensures that children continue to receive a suitable education in a setting that better supports their individual needs.

 

Children do not need an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to access Alternative Provision. Local Authorities have a duty to arrange suitable education for any child of compulsory school age who cannot attend school, including following exclusion (over five days), where physical or mental health prevents attendance (even part-time), or where ongoing attendance difficulties mean mainstream education is not suitable.

 

Parents can request Alternative Provision by writing to their Local Authority to explain why mainstream school is not working for their child, particularly where concerns relate to health, behaviour, exclusion, or unmet needs.

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​Spark Academy -Alternative Provision Provider

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At Spark Academy, we specialise in delivering Alternative Provision through our team of experienced, fully qualified teachers. We support children and young people who are unable to access mainstream education due to SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), medical conditions, mental health needs, or the impact of trauma.

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All provision is fully bespoke, carefully designed around the individual needs of each child. Curriculum content, teaching approaches, pace, and delivery methods are tailored to ensure learning is accessible, supportive, and meaningful. As an Alternative Provision provider, we place the child at the centre of our practice, with a strong focus on well-being, confidence, engagement, and progress.

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Where a child remains registered at their mainstream school, we work closely and collaboratively with the school to ensure continuity of education and shared goals. This includes regular communication, progress updates, and alignment with SEND support plans or EHCP outcomes, supporting the best possible outcomes for each child and reintegration where appropriate.

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We work in close partnership with Local Authorities, social workers, Virtual School Heads, and multi-agency teams, ensuring a joined-up approach that supports each child effectively. Clear communication, accountability, and collaboration underpin everything we do.

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Spark Academy is an approved Alternative Provision provider, operating under formal frameworks and supplier lists, with robust quality assurance processes in place across multiple regions in the UK. This enables Local Authorities and schools to commission our services with confidence, knowing that our provision meets required standards and expectations.​

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Some of the Local Authorities we currently work with include

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