Alternative Provision

The Norfolk Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy sets out a new landscape of provision for children at risk of exclusion from mainstream secondary schools.

The strategy and its delivery model have been developed, and is being delivered in partnership with schools and in consultation with the Norfolk AP Steering Group.

This new approach will improve support for children, families and schools, so wherever possible, children can successfully remain in a mainstream school close to their home, with siblings and friends, to enable them to flourish in their local community.

It aims to prevent exclusions wherever possible, reducing the overall number of permanent exclusions across Norfolk.

The strategy is based upon the Department for Education (DfE) three-tiered model for Alternative Provision as shown below.

Embedding the principles of collective decision-making around the needs of children and young people who are at risk of exclusion from school is central to the strategy. We are enabling decision-making for support and placements through Local Planning Partnerships to achieve this aim.

The Tier 1 offer aims to provide a continuum of support that meets the differing needs of children and young people and is based on the following elements:

Universal Training Offer - Trauma-Informed Training

• We are expanding the Trauma Informed awareness training offer from the Norfolk Virtual School to support the Secondary SEMH SRB programme as well as mainstream schools.
• The offer will have increased capacity from 2026-27, and further information will be shared through the Virtual School's existing communications with schools.

Targeted Outreach for Children Transitioning from Year 6 to Year 7

• This offer will support children in Year 6 who are vulnerable to exclusion in Years 7 and 8. It will be a targeted, data-led intervention, offering wraparound support for the child, their family, and their current and new school.
• The initial pilot is scheduled to begin in Spring 2026.

Enhanced Transition Support for Managed Moves

• The current arrangements for managed moves under the Norfolk policy are being strengthened to provide additional capacity to support parents and carers, and the schools supporting the child's transition.
• This team will be in place from the autumn term. Any updates to procedures will be communicated through MI Sheets.

Providing time-limited placements for pupils at risk of exclusion is a cornerstone of the strategy. The implementation plan identifies the aim to establish 19 Secondary SEMH SRBs, that will support over 300 pupils every year.

Over the past year, we have worked closely with trusts and schools across Norfolk to identify locations for new provision. Our wider consultation and collaboration with schools has resulted in two models of Secondary SEMH SRBs:

• SEMH Bases - offering short-term placements of six-eight weeks for up to ten pupils, providing early intervention and assessment support.
• SEMH Centres - offering longer term placements of up to 3 terms. The SEMH centres will typically consist of two-three classes, each supporting up to eight pupils who need access to more intensive curriculum and SEMH intervention and support.

The first SEMH Centre has been registered with the DfE at King's Lynn Academy and opened in January 2025, supporting three local schools.

Planned Timeline for Implementation

We are currently working with schools and trusts to open new provision as set out below:

The remaining SEMH Bases and SEMH Centres are in various stages of planning and their locations will be shared once trust and trustee approval has been agreed.

The vision established and shared for the AP Strategy at the beginning of the programme outlines the principle of collective decision-making. This approach is supported by strong evidence that it achieves more positive outcomes, as it enables school leaders to work collaboratively to support pupils across their local area.

To facilitate this, Norfolk secondary schools have been grouped into 10 Local Planning Partnerships (LPPs).

The formation of the LPPs has been guided by the principles of the Local First Inclusion Programme,

• Enabling pupils to access provision within or near their own community
• Reducing travel time for pupils
• Considering demand and sufficiency needs across Norfolk
• Building on existing school relationships

There has been a LPP pilot in King's Lynn, which has informed wider planning, delivering positive outcomes for the schools involved.

We will be introducing LPPs across Norfolk from autumn 2025 to enable school leaders to make shared decisions on how the Tier one and Tier two provision should be used to support pupils across their schools.

Any queries should be emailed to alternativeprovision@norfolk.gov.uk