DfE Alternative Provision Guidance 2025: What Schools, Trusts, and Local Authorities Need to Know
The Department for Education (DfE) has published its updated alternative provision (AP) guidance, replacing the 2013 version. With new policies, statutory expectations, and a stronger focus on reintegration, this guidance provides critical updates for local authorities, MATs, and schools arranging alternative provision for students.
In this blog, we’ll break down the major updates, compare them to the previous guidance, and highlight what schools and local authorities need to do now.
What is the new Alternative Provision guidance?
The DfE’s 2025 alternative provision guidance outlines statutory duties and best practises for local authorities, trusts, and schools in arranging suitable education for students who cannot attend mainstream schools due to:
- Exclusion
- Illness
- Behavioural challenges
- Other barriers to mainstream education
The updated DfE guidance on AP places stronger emphasis on:
- Strategic planning to ensure sufficient, quality AP places
- Clear criteria for placements and stronger oversight
- Safeguarding measures for vulnerable students
- Greater integration with SEND and health services
It replaces the 2013 guidance and includes key updates aligned with recent education policies, including the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Key changes & policy shifts in the 2025 AP guidance
These updates align AP guidance with the wider education reforms in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, prioritising mainstream inclusion (where applicable), greater transparency in school placements, and more accountability in AP quality.
What schools, trusts, & local authorities need to do now
The new DfE AP guidance makes it clear that schools and local authorities must take proactive steps to ensure high-quality provision. Here’s what that means in practice:
- Local authorities must create multi-year alternative provision strategies
The guidance requires LAs to have a detailed plan for alternative provision, including:
- Funding strategies to sustain AP
- A process for placing students
- Quality assurance measures for AP providers
- A reintegration policy to help students return to mainstream education
2. Schools must strengthen placement and oversight processes
Schools must ensure that students places in AP:
- Receive a high-quality education approproiate to their needs
- Are placed with registered, well-monitored providers
- Have a clear reibtegration or transition plan
3. Alternative provision cannot be used as a 'default' for SEND children
One of the biggest policy clarifications in the 2025 guidance is that AP should not be used as a substitute for special school provision just because there is a shortage of local SEND places. This shift reinforces Ofsted’s concerns that too many SEND students are placed in AP due to a lack of suitable local provision.
4. Safeguarding and remote learning expectations are stronger
- Schools must monitor AP placements closely to ensure pupil safety
- Remote education is now an expected option for those that cannot physically attend school
5. Reintegration must be a priority
- Every AP placement should be made with a clear plan for the student's return to mainstream or transition into post-16 education
- Schools and LAs must document reintegration process
The future of Alternative Provision under the 2025 guidance
The DfE’s 2025 alternative provision guidance marks a significant shift in how AP is managed, ensuring greater strategic planning from local authorities, stronger safeguarding and oversight, and a renewed focus on reintegration. With alternative provision guidance now aligning with the broader Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, schools, local authorities, trusts, and AP providers will need to adapt quickly to meet these new expectations.
Looking to strengthen your alternative provision strategy? Speak to PAG today. With extensive experience in AP strategy development and implementation, as well as a strong track record of successfully opening new alternative provision settings, we are well-equipped to support you. Simply use our contact page, and we’ll be in touch shortly to arrange a call.