£7m transition fund for pupils leaving alternative provision

Children and families minister Vicky Ford announced £7m funding on Thursday aimed at increasing support offered to 11,300 Year 11 pupils transitioning from secondary school into post-16 education, work or training.

The one-off funding package has been launched in response to concerns these pupils are at greater risk of ending up not in education, employment or training (Neet) as a result of time spent out of education due to the Covid-19 crisis.

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The money will be used to help schools and colleges pay for tailored support such as transition coaches and mentors to provide one-to-one support for young people.

This would help them make decisions about employment post GCSEs or support them to stay in education or training in post-16 settings, the government said.

Alternative provision settings can retrospectively claim up to £750 per sole-registered pupil to cover the cost of activities to help prevent that young person from becoming Neet, it added.

“As many young people stayed at home to stop the spread of coronavirus, they missed out on time with their teachers and peers.

“For those attending alternative provision, who may have relied on additional support to ease this important transition in their lives, this new funding will help them get back on track, re-engage them in their education and direct them on to the next chapter of their lives,” Ford said.

Statistics released by the Department for Education show 59 per cent of young people attending alternative provision go on to a “sustained post-16 destination”, compared to 94 per cent of pupils attending mainstream schools.

Of this cohort, 23 per cent are Neet after leaving alternative provision, the department said.

Mark Vickers, chief executive of Olive Academies multi-academy trust, said the announcement had been welcomed by alternative provision and special educational needs multi-academy trust leaders across the UK.

“This funding will help ensure that our Year 11s are better equipped for the next stage of their learning journeys,” he said.

Sarah Dove, president of the National Organisation of Pupil Referral Units and Alternative Provision, said the Covid-19 pandemic had accentuated the vulnerabilities of Year 11 children educated in PRUs and alternative provision.

“PRUs and alternative provision have worked incredibly hard to develop and maintain positive relationships with children and young people during coronavirus, even whilst those children may not have been able to attend.

“This fund allows a continuation of these professional relationships to bear fruit in terms of ensuring successful outcomes for the students,” she said.