Explore Family Pathway’s latest report on Alternative Provision:
Divergence or Drift? Reclaiming Purpose in a System Under Pressure
This report examines how Alternative Provision is evolving across Wales and England and asks a critical question:
Is the system adapting with intention, or drifting away from its original purpose?
Drawing on practice, system insight, and emerging national trends, the report highlights the growing challenges facing vulnerable learners and the implications for education, services, and long-term outcomes.
What The Report Explores
The rise in EOTAS and forms of hidden exclusion
The estimated £1.85 billion societal cost of exclusion
Why learners with ALN are significantly more likely to be excluded
The increasing pressure on schools, services, and families
What high-quality internal Alternative Provision should look like in practice
Why This Matters
Inclusion
Attendance
Mental health
Safeguarding
Long-term life outcomes
When purpose becomes unclear, provision risks becoming reactive, inconsistent, and disconnected from learner need.
This report calls for a clearer, more intentional approach — one that re-centres purpose, equity, and meaningful outcomes.
Read or Download The Report
You can explore the report online or download a copy to read, share, and use within your organisation.