Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in the last 12 months on the adequacy of inspections of (a) pupil referral units and (b) alternative provision settings.

Ministers and officials have regular discussions with His Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI) and Ofsted staff about a wide range of matters concerning Ofsted’s inspection activity.

Ofsted introduced the new Education Inspection Framework (EIF) in September 2019. All parts of the EIF apply to pupil referral units and other alternative provision in free schools and academies, while accepting that the curriculum may be very specialised.

The School Inspection Handbook has sections (paragraphs 282-287) that specifically support inspectors to evaluate a school’s use of off-site alternative provision, the quality of education, safeguarding, transitions and destinations in pupil referral units, and academy alternative provision. This is because these types of providers differ from other schools as they are intended to be short-term interventions to secure the successful re-engagement into education. The School Inspection Handbook is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-eif/school-inspection-handbook-for-september-2023.

Where there are pupils in pupil referral units and other alternative providers, or those attending off-site alternative provision while on-roll at another school, inspectors will evaluate the extent to which these placements are safe and effective in promoting pupils’ progress. Inspectors will normally visit a sample of the alternative providers used and, if required, may speak to local authorities, other agencies, and parents/carers to gather evidence.

HMCI will produce her annual report later this year which will include the evaluation of the effectiveness of alternative provision.