SCHOOLS & ACADEMIES SHOW PREVIEW
5 Tips to Implement Internal AP in Your School
For schools that have gaps in their specialist skills, outsourcing these to an external provider may be the best option. Academy21’s specialist pastoral support includes mentoring, wellbeing workshops, and a range of additional personalised learning tools.
3. Tailor the Curriculum to Student Needs
The curriculum is central to any AP. While students must keep up with their peers academically, internal AP must also address the social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) challenges that may have led to their referral. This balance between academic work and intervention is critical to a pupil’s success.
Many schools use a flexible approach to curriculum delivery. For instance, Haybrook Academy utilises Academy21’s online provision for core subjects, allowing them to dedicate time in the afternoons to complementary activities, such as vocational learning or therapeutic interventions.
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chools across the UK are grappling with rising suspension rates, tight budgets, and a growing demand for Alternative Provision (AP) placements. With increasing pressure to support students who are disengaged or have special needs, internal AP has emerged as a solution to consider.
At Academy21, we’ve worked closely with schools that have developed their own internal AP, such as Haybrook Academy in Slough. Their Apollo unit, which integrates our online provision, has been described as “rewarding” by its Head, Julia Holder, who sees it as instrumental in “giving young people confidence so that they’re able to go out into the world.” If you’re considering implementing internal AP in your school, here are five essential practices to get you started.
1. Align Internal AP with Your Inclusion Strategy The students benefiting from internal AP may be physically separated from their peers, but your provision should not exist in isolation. A whole-school approach ensures that every pupil receives the right support when needed, whether they struggle with behaviour, attendance, or other challenges. Incorporating internal AP into your broader inclusion strategy can improve its perception among students, families, and staff. A well-integrated approach allows your provision to be seen as part of a holistic solution, fostering positive outcomes and greater stakeholder engagement.
4. Create a Connected Environment
Setting up provision in a distant school section can create a sense of isolation for students. Instead, opt for a space that feels like an extension of the school, helping pupils maintain a connection with the broader school community.
If a more remote location is necessary, consider creative ways to keep students connected, such as displaying school news or inviting mainstream staff to visit the AP space regularly. A sense of belonging can significantly affect a student’s progress and readiness to reintegrate.
5. Implement Data-Driven Quality Assurance
Robust data tracking systems can help you measure student progress and engagement, allowing you to make evidence-based improvements over time. Academy21’s approach, which includes daily monitoring and progress reports, is an excellent example of how data can support quality assurance. Our detailed data is easily accessible via the ‘Mentor Portal’, enabling schools to measure progress effectively and fine-tune their internal AP, ensuring it continues to meet student needs while making the best use of resources.
Creating Flexible and Lasting Solutions 2. Optimise Staff Time and Resources
Teachers and support staff working in AP must be more than supervisors; they need specialist skills in behaviour management, mental health first aid, crisis de-escalation, and trauma-informed practices. Schools that already have some of these skills in-house could optimise their resources by outsourcing the academic component to online AP providers. Academy21 offers a DfE- accredited curriculum that covers Key Stage 3 and 4, effectively preparing students for their GCSE exams.
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Implementing internal alternative provision requires thoughtful planning, but the rewards are immense. With these critical practices in place, your internal AP can become vital to your school’s support-first approach. Partners like Academy21 can support the implementation of your internal AP with a DfE- accredited curriculum, a fully flexible online learning environment, and cost- effective solutions tailored to your needs.
November 2024
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