Alternative Provision

Knowsley’s Arrangements for Alternative Provision

What is Alternative Provision?

Alternative Provision (AP) refers to education arranged by local authorities for pupils who, because of exclusion, illness, or other reasons, would not otherwise receive suitable education. This is underpinned by the statutory responsibility under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996.

Local authorities should have a written, publicly accessible policy statement on their arrangements for complying with the Section 19 duty. It is good practice for local authorities to make this policy available and publish it online, and Knowsley’s policy statement can be found here: 

 

What is the Section 19 Duty?

Under Section 19  of the Education Act 1996, local authorities must make arrangements to ensure that pupils of compulsory school age who cannot attend school—for example, due to permanent exclusion or health needs—receive suitable full-time education. This applies from the sixth school day following a permanent exclusion or usually where a pupil is expected to be out of education for 15 school days or more due to medical reasons.

 

Knowsley’s Local Alternative Provision Services

Meadow Park School – Pupil Referral Unit (PRU)

Meadow Park is Knowsley’s main provider of AP for behaviour and exclusion-related needs.

Services Offered:

  • Short-stay placements (STAR programme): 12-week placements for children on roll at a mainstream ‘home’ school. These placements focus on improving behaviour, building resilience, and developing the skills to reintegrate successfully into mainstream settings.
  • Behaviour support placements: Pupils referred by the Behaviour Panel may access AP at Meadow Park for up to three terms.
  • Exclusion-related placements: For children who have been permanently excluded, Meadow Park provides full-time education from the sixth school day onwards.

Quality and Outcomes:

  • In 2025, Meadow Park fully met the standard required by the Quality Mark’s Inclusive School Award and has now progressed to Centre of Excellence status, recognising its strong inclusive practice and commitment to high-quality provision. The report can be found here:  

Contact:

📧 meadowpark@knowsley.gov.uk

📞 0151 477 8100

 

Hospital and Home Tuition (HHT) Service

This service supports children who are temporarily unable to attend school due to medical or health needs.

Where is it delivered?

  • Whiston Hospital site – supporting in-patients
  • George Howard Centre – for community-based medical AP

Who is it for?

Children who:

  • Are expected to be absent for 15 days or more (consecutively or cumulatively) due to health reasons
  • Are unable to attend mainstream school but remain on roll

What is offered?

  • Bespoke tuition in hospital, at home, or off-site locations
  • Close liaison with healthcare professionals
  • Reintegration planning to return pupils to school where appropriate

Contact:

📧 hospitalandhometuitionservice@knowsley.gov.uk

📞 07384 900837