Most young people attend mainstream state schools in the UK, but those with particular needs, anxieties and diagnoses may find themselves significantly challenged by the experience that mainstream school presents.
Mainstream education by its nature works for the majority of young people, but when it doesn't it can be extremely stressful and challenging for the young person and their family. For a family trying to navigate a system that doesn't suit their child it can feel like a world of barriers and very few positive options.
So what are the options for young people who do not fit the mainstream education mould?
Alternative education provision does exactly what it says on the tin, and there are a huge range of provisions available but availability varies across the country. The sector is currently unregulated and this means schools and families need to be really careful about the provision they choose.
Fulltime alternative provision.
An alternative provision that provides full-time, face-to-face education for young people must be registered as an independent school, and be regulated by OFSTED. But these alternative independent schools have more freedom than mainstream schools to provide an alternative curriculum and manage their day in a way that suits their young people. They typically have smaller class sizes and higher staff to student ratios.
Online learning
The world of online learning has been steadily growing for a while, but took a leap forward during the Covid years. Online learning provisions do not need to be registered as independent schools and provisions range from large online schools to small bespoke provisions. They may provide full-time timetables with a range of subjects, very similar to the curriculum available at a mainstream school, or they may provide packages of learning designed for individual students.
Part-time provisions
Part-time alternative provisions that work alongside schools do not need to be registered as independent schools or regulated by OFSTED. They may provide learning experiences for day release for example. This may be through a particular medium, perhaps art, sport, animal care or outdoor education. These are often part of a wider program provided alongside a mainstream school.
Other alternative provisions may include hospital schools or small units that support students with very particular needs.
How do families go about accessing these provisions?
There are two main ways families can access alternative education provisions. The first is through agreement with the school their child is on roll with. In this example families may need to approach the school if they have a particular alternative provision they would like to be considered. Alternatively the school may approach the family with an alternative provision they think best fits their child. If a child accesses alternative education whilst on roll at a mainstream school, the school pays for that provision.
The second way families can access alternative education provision is as home educators. As an electively home educating family, families take full responsibility for the education of their young person. This is certainly not for the faint-hearted. Home educating families are free to access any provision they wish for their child, the main barrier is usually cost. Find out more about home educating here.
If you would like further information about the alternative provision that The Phoenix project can offer please contact us through our website or call us for a chat.
留言