Possible outcomes
- Request agreed: the local authority has determined from the evidence that the child will not receive a suitable education unless arrangements are made for them. Therefore, alternative provision will be provided.
The nature of the alternative provision, the provider and the venue will be determined according to the context of the request. Regular reviews will take place. The focus will remain on alternative provision being a short-term intervention and not an end destination, with the aim of achieving a sustained return to school and full-time education as soon as possible.
The alternative provision will be arranged by the Pupil Reintegration Team (PRT), or by the Education Welfare and Engagement (EWE) Team for children on a Return to School (RTS) pathway.
- Request not agreed at this time: the local authority has determined from the evidence that the child is receiving, or can be supported to receive, a suitable education at their education setting.
A minimum of a 3-month check-in on the case will be scheduled for the relevant Caseworker to review the child’s engagement and any support in place, and whether alternative provision should be considered. This can be a multi-agency meeting or supplement multi-agency working and meetings that take place.
The line manager of the Caseworker will diarise an update from the Caseworker following the 3-month check-in.
If at the 3-month check-in some progress has been made, but the child is still not regularly attending, a further 3-month check is diarised. A request can be re-submitted for consideration in the future if the needs of the child or progress towards full time education is not sufficient.
Professionals should be mindful in review meetings whether the progress towards full time education is sufficient and, if not, what additional steps need to be put in place, including changes to or additional support, strategies and agencies or whether alternative provision should be considered.
For ‘otherwise’, as this often involves parent/carer concerns that their child’s needs are not being met, the Quality and Effectiveness Team can be involved as a strategic professional partner to schools, providing support to senior leaders (including governors), so that they are rigorous in evaluating and implementing effective inclusive practice to meet the additional needs of children.
- Request to be discussed at multi-agency meeting: the local authority has determined that multi-agency discussion is required to determine whether the child can be supported to receive a suitable education or whether alternative provision arrangements need to be made for them. The Lead officer will arrange the meeting and invite all relevant agencies, including but not limited to parent/carer, child, school, involved agencies.
Where the request is in relation to medical needs, further evidence may be sought from relevant medical professionals to determine whether alternative provision arrangements need to be made for the child.
Following the multi-agency, the request will either be ‘agreed’, ‘not agreed at this time’, or ‘not agreed’ and next steps should be set out as per these outcomes.
- Request Not Agreed: the local authority has determined from the evidence that request isn’t in relation to or trigger the Section 19 duty. There will be no further action.
The school will be informed when a parental request for alternative provision has been made. It is important for Headteachers/Principals to know when a family does not feel confident in the school’s provision.
The school should be part of 3-month check ins and any multi-agency meetings to support their proactive implementation of reasonable adjustments and ensure, wherever possible, that they are providing education that continues to be reasonably practicable for the child to attend.
Case Recording
Recording of all actions and decision points to be on the child’s Mosaic record in Casenotes.