At Edusafe, we provide specialist safeguarding and risk management support tailored specifically to alternative provision settings. We understand that safeguarding in these environments goes far beyond policies on a shelf. It requires strong leadership, clear systems, confident staff and practical risk management to protect young people every day.
Our approach ensures that your safeguarding arrangements meet statutory requirements under the Children Act 1989 and 2004, Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018, and other relevant legislation, while reflecting the realities of alternative provision. We also recognise that many learners in alternative provision have complex needs, unpredictable behaviours and heightened vulnerability. While strong systems reduce risk, it is not always possible to prevent every incident.
That is why our services include post-incident safeguarding reviews, practical guidance on risk assessment, and tailored staff training. We help settings reflect on what happened, identify contributing factors, strengthen systems and put improvements in place. Focusing on learning and resilience rather than blame, we support settings to embed safer practice and ensure compliance with Ofsted inspection frameworks and broader safeguarding law.
Our work extends to developing and reviewing bespoke policies, implementing practical safeguarding procedures, and providing ongoing support to staff and leadership teams. By partnering with Edusafe, alternative provision settings can confidently meet statutory obligations, maintain a safe and secure environment, and create a culture of accountability, care and continuous improvement.
An alternative provision is an educational setting designed for children and young people who are unable to attend mainstream schools for a variety of reasons. These settings provide tailored support for learners who may struggle in traditional classrooms due to behavioural, emotional, social, or health-related challenges. Alternative provision focuses on personalised teaching, smaller class sizes, and additional support such as counselling, mentoring, and life skills development to help students succeed academically and personally.
Like mainstream schools, alternative provision settings are regulated and inspected to ensure they meet statutory safeguarding and educational standards. They must comply with legislation including the Children Act 1989 and 2004, the Education Act 2002, and Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025, and are subject to Ofsted inspections. In short, alternative provision exists to make sure every child has access to education, care, and safeguarding, even when mainstream schooling is not suitable.
What Is An AP?
Alternative provisions work by offering a personalised and flexible approach to education, designed to meet the specific needs of learners who cannot thrive in mainstream schools.
They provide smaller class sizes, tailored lessons, and individualised support to help students succeed academically while addressing behavioural, emotional, and social challenges. Staff in alternative provision are trained to manage complex needs and provide practical interventions, mentoring, and additional services such as counselling and life skills development.
These settings operate within the same statutory and regulatory framework as mainstream schools, ensuring compliance with safeguarding legislation, health and safety requirements, and inspection standards set out by Ofsted.
Risk management, strong leadership oversight, and clear systems are central to how alternative provision works, enabling staff to maintain a safe, structured, and supportive environment where vulnerable young people can learn, grow, and prepare for future opportunities.
How Do They Work?
Alternative provisions help young people by providing the support and structure they may not receive in mainstream schools. They offer personalised education, targeted interventions, and a safe environment where learners with complex needs, challenging behaviours, or heightened vulnerability can thrive. By addressing both academic and personal development, alternative provision helps students build confidence, resilience, and essential life skills, increasing their chances of long-term success.
These settings also benefit families and communities by keeping young people engaged in education, reducing the risk of exclusion, and supporting positive social and emotional outcomes. With skilled staff, tailored learning programmes, and a focus on safeguarding, alternative provisions ensure that every learner has the opportunity to reach their potential, even when mainstream schooling is not suitable.
Why They Help