May 2024
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This conference considered next steps for alternative provision in England.
It followed the Government’s SEND and AP Improvement Plan, published last year in response to its green paper consultation. Backed by £4.8m of funding, the plan includes:
- aims to introduce new national standards, with new professional guidelines
- recommendations for an extension to AP specialist taskforces, and investment in professional training to improve early intervention
- additional specialist school places and approval for 33 new free schools
- improved access to support through the digitisation of education, health and care (EHC) plans
With the Government appointing a SEND and alternative provision improvement board to oversee implementation of the plan, it was an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to consider progress made on key measures, including the introduction of new national standards.
Delegates assessed priorities for further commitments in the plan, including:
- better preparing students to return to mainstream education, as well as transitioning into adulthood
- utilising AP both as an intervention tool and as high-quality standalone provision
- introducing a national combined framework for AP and SEND, and improving direct interventions for young people through specialist taskforces
Attendees discussed approaches to prevent children from needing to be excluded from school, and how to strengthen coordination across schools, local authorities and other services, as well as also looking at how to best engage with parents and guardians to identify children’s individual needs, navigate the system and improve young people’s experiences of AP.
Further sessions considered AP system capacity and sustainability, following concerns over waiting times for access, the support required to successfully reintegrate children back into mainstream education, best practice in working with employers and further education institutions to develop support plans for young people, and the impact of work experience schemes.
The conference was also an opportunity to consider the future for the AP workforce, with discussion on priorities for improving workload pressures, qualification options and upskilling for the existing workforce, the role of agency staff within the sector, and next steps for improving recruitment and retention.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Elizabeth Franey, Deputy Director, DfE; Marie Gentles, Founder and Director, Gentles Guidance; Brenda McHugh, Co-Director of Service for Schools, Anna Freud Centre; and Kevin Buchanan and Dympna Woods, Executive Headteachers, EdStart Schools.
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from DfE; Ofsted; DoE, NI; CMA; DWP; GLD; NAO; and DAERA, NI;.
