Alternative Education Provision for Children and Young People including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) - DPS - CA&FS - CSC/2023/686 *

Stoke on Trent City Council intend to establish a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to deliver Section 19 Alternative Provision, ensuring statutory duties are fulfilled, pupils are re-integrated back into mainstream schools or in KS4 are prepared for adulthood. It ensures that outcomes for young people are improved, quality across the market is improved and provision is value for money. Section 19 of the Education Act places a duty on local authorities to make suitable Alternative Education Provision for children of statutory school age who cannot attend school because of illness, exclusion, or any other reasons and who would not receive suitable education without such arrangements being made.

This duty applies to all children including those with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND). Alternative Provision should exist to re-engage children with education and should normally work towards re-integrating students back into mainstream provision or in KS4 preparing young people for adulthood.