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Alternative provision, off-site direction and managed moves

Alternative provision caters for children who can't attend school for a variety of reasons, including challenging behaviour. Your board can temporarily direct pupils off-site, so they can attend another education setting to improve their behaviour. Your school can also carry out a managed move to another school, if a pupil needs a permanent change. Find out about the requirements for both options, and your safeguarding responsibilities when pupils are in AP.

Last reviewed on 7 January 2026See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 45883
Contents
  1. What is alternative provision?
  2. What is off-site direction?
  3. The requirements when you direct pupils off site
  4. Your safeguarding responsibilities when pupils are in AP
  5. What are managed moves?

What is alternative provision?

An alternative provision (AP) is an education setting that caters for children who are unable to attend school, whether temporarily or longer term. This could be:

  • Because of illness or other needs
  • During a suspension 
    • Your board is required to arrange alternative education for pupils who have been suspended for periods of longer than 5 school days, to begin on the 6th day. It's likely that this will involve an AP placement
  • After a pupil is permanently excluded
  • As a result of being directed off-site to improve challenging behaviour

APs can be standalone settings or situated within schools. 

The rest of this article deals mainly with AP placements as part of an off-site direction aimed at improving a pupil's behaviour.

This is when a governing board of a maintained school requires a pupil to attend another education setting to improve their behaviour. Academies can also arrange off-site