Alternative learning provision is a term that covers a broad range of education that children and young people can access instead of, or in addition to, regular school.
The aim of alternative learning provision is to offer education to pupils who are having a difficult time engaging in typical classroom learning and need some support to re-engage. This might be due to some of the following reasons:
- challenges around physical or mental health
- additional learning needs
- the young person has been temporarily or permanently excluded
Alternative provision can take different forms depending on the needs of the pupil. It should always focus on the long-term goal of re-engaging children and young people with education, training or employment.
In North Somerset, there are two main types of alternative learning provision:
- our pupil referral unit
- independent alternative provision
Our pupil referral unit
The Voyage Learning Campus is our pupil referral unit. It is a school for children and young people who are unable to attend mainstream schools for medical reasons, or because they have been permanently excluded from school.
The Voyage Learning Campus may also be able to provide some outreach support for pupils who are at risk of permanent exclusion. Some pupils who are on the roll of the Voyage Learning Campus also attend other forms of alternative learning provision off site.