London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jul 07, 2025

Ofsted investigates rise in primary-age children in alternative provision

Ofsted investigates rise in primary-age children in alternative provision

Exclusive: Chief inspector says some children being placed in unregistered, unsafe settings after being excluded from school
The schools inspectorate Ofsted has launched an urgent inquiry into a sharp rise in the number of primary-age children – some as young as five – being excluded from school and placed in institutions that can be unregulated, “unkempt and unsafe”.

The chief inspector of schools in England, Amanda Spielman, told the Guardian that some children were being removed from mainstream schools because their needs and behaviour were seen as “too challenging”, and were being placed in alternative provision (AP) “with little thought of their futures”.

She has called on the government to make it a legal requirement for all AP to be registered, warning that inspectors have found pupils in unregistered settings playing video games all day in unkempt and unsafe buildings where staff do not appear to care whether they attend or not. Some “exist on the edge of the law”, she said.

Ofsted inspectors have reported visiting schools in caravans and on industrial estates. Local authorities can pay annual fees of £30,000 or even more to private and sometimes unregistered providers.

According to Ofsted, the number of pupils taken out of their primary school and referred to alternative educational settings has risen 27% in the last four years, and there are more than 7,000 pupils aged 11 and under being taught in AP.

While the reasons behind the increase are unclear, there are fears the figure will rise further in the coming months as many vulnerable children struggle to adapt to the demands of the school day after disruption caused by the pandemic.

Writing for the Guardian, Spielman said: “Every child, regardless of their background, deserves a good education and the chance to reach their full potential. But some children – often the most vulnerable – just don’t get that. While most children have been back in the classroom since September, some children with behavioural, emotional or health problems are instead in alternative provision instead of a normal school.”

AP is for children who struggle with conventional education or whose needs cannot be met by mainstream schools. Many come from deprived backgrounds, some have families affected by alcohol and drug abuse as well as mental illness, and 80% have special educational needs and disabilities (Send).

“Sometimes it is a useful short-term fix for excluded pupils, serving a valuable purpose in re-engaging them in education; sometimes it does a good job of teaching young people right through to age 16,” said Spielman. “But I am concerned that it is sometimes used just to move on children whose needs and behaviour are deemed too challenging, with little thought of their future.”

According to Ofsted, the overall number of children in AP has increased 14% over the last four years. Spielman said: “I’m particularly concerned that the number of primary-age children referred to AP has risen by 27% since 2017 – there are now over 7,000 under-11s in AP. We’re seeing children as young as five attending AP settings, after headteachers have taken what must be an extremely difficult decision to exclude them from primary school.

“In light of this, I have commissioned new research to better understand the role that AP plays in the education system, and to find out why primary pupils are being referred to alternative provision in the first place. We will also explore how the pandemic has changed the AP landscape.”

The Department for Education (DfE) disagreed with Ofsted’s claim that there had been an increase in numbers of primary placements in AP in recent years, disputing the inclusion of placements in non-maintained special schools in its calculations.

A DfE spokesperson said the number of pupils in state-funded AP had gone down over the past few years, but added: “We are looking at reforms to incentivise more early support, and to ensure that those who are permanently excluded remain safe and supported, as part of the ongoing review of the Send system. This includes pupils in unregistered settings and in primary AP, though permanent exclusion of young children is rare.

“We are investing in programmes that support pupils to remain engaged in their education and training, and the chancellor has announced an additional £2.6bn to deliver new places and improve existing provision for pupils with Send, including those who require AP and special schools.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
×