SCG non-registered Alternative Provision:
Why choose us?
The Department for Education’s latest guidance on Alternative Provision brings welcome clarity around the use of unregistered providers.
We have created a dedicated team who have a wealth of experience in creating and delivering outcome focused programmes and interventions, that are accessible and tailored to meet the needs of the learners.
The updated guidance recognises the valuable role unregistered providers can play while ensuring appropriate safeguards and operating procedures are in place.
With our careful planning and due diligence, schools, colleges, local authorities and parent/carers can feel confident in the services we provide.
Within that, each student’s timetable is shaped around their individual needs, so no two programmes look the same.
Many young people benefit from work that goes beyond the traditional curriculum, particularly when they need support with mental health, confidence, behaviour, or emotional regulation.
For this reason, we run several part‑time programmes focused on wellbeing and personal development.
A full-day with us typically blends workshops with practical, hands‑on activities, all planned around what each young person requires.
This can include structured tasks, physical activity, mentoring, routine‑building, or skills‑based sessions.
Our AP is based at Sportszone in Sandbach and combines structured sports coaching with SEMH support and personalised programmes.
It’s particularly well‑suited to pupils who thrive through movement‑based learning and small‑group environments.
Sessions prioritise safety, positive routines, and re‑engagement with education, all aligned with school plans and SMART outcomes.
Here are the stepping stones to what we offer:
· Clear communication from your initial referral to review;
· High quality flexible approach to achieving progress and outcomes;
· Experienced staff providing a safe and inclusive environment;
· Robust policies and procedures;
· Consistent informative updates;
· Secure access to attendance.
Unregistered alternative provision refers to provision that is not a registered school or college.
We can offer flexible opportunities for pupils, whilst operating within specific parameters to remain legally unregistered.
The DfE states: “Local authorities and schools CAN arrange alternative provision in settings which are not schools or colleges.”
Unregistered providers can only give a student a maximum of 16 hours of provision per week.
The updated guidance emphasises that commissioners (schools or local authorities) retain full safeguarding duties when placing pupils with unregistered providers.
You must:
Obtain written confirmation of appropriate staff safeguarding checks;
Ensure robust systems for monitoring attendance;
Maintain records of all site locations pupils may attend;
Know where pupils are during school hours;
Follow up promptly on any unexplained absences.
Many areas now use quality assurance frameworks for unregistered provision, with local authorities, schools and providers working together.
We are quality assured by Cheshire East Council to read more on this click here.
Heere are some of the standards we adhere to:
Define clear local standards;
Assess providers against safeguarding requirements;
Review accommodation quality;
Evaluate education provision;
Enable providers to demonstrate compliance before commissioning;
Best Practice for Schools.
These are our guidelines when working with unregistered providers:
Conduct thorough due diligence before placement;
Document all safeguarding arrangements;
Maintain regular oversight of pupil progress;
Keep accurate attendance records;
Review placements frequently;
Ensure clear communication channels.
The updated guidance recognises the valuable role unregistered providers can play while ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place.
The key is striking the right balance between flexibility and oversight.
With careful planning and due diligence, schools should feel confident in working with unregistered providers who meet standards and operate within legal parameters, while maintaining robust monitoring systems to ensure pupil safety and educational progress.
When properly managed, unregistered alternative provision can:
Provide specialist support tailored to individual needs;
Offer flexibility in meeting pupil requirements;
Complement mainstream education;
Help re-engage disaffected learners;
Support successful reintegration.
The student management system we use is DCPro Alternative Provision.
It is transforming how schools, local authorities and education providers manage students in alternative settings, offering a streamlined, cloud-based solution for attendance, timetabling and progress tracking.
Designed with flexibility and efficiency in mind, the platform brings together key areas of student management into one central system.
It supports a wide range of cohorts, including SEND, EOTAS, permanently excluded (PEX), children missing education (CME) and looked after children (LAC), helping organisations stay informed and responsive at all times.
At its core, DCPro enables real-time attendance tracking, allowing tutors and providers to log updates instantly via mobile or desktop.
This ensures accurate, up-to-date records and supports faster safeguarding and welfare responses where needed.
The system also offers adaptable timetabling, making it easy to create and adjust schedules around individual student needs.
Integration with existing school management information systems helps reduce duplication and keeps data flowing seamlessly between platforms.
Progress monitoring is another key strength.
Staff can track academic performance alongside pastoral development, set personalised targets and measure outcomes over time.
This holistic view supports more informed decision-making and better long-term planning for each learner.
In addition, DCPro provides detailed reporting tools, enabling users to filter data by school, provider or cohort.
Virtual school functionality also allows for more focused oversight of specific groups, improving accountability across the board.
Referral and placement management is built into the system, simplifying the process of allocating students to appropriate provisions and managing transitions, including permanent exclusions.
With mobile accessibility on both Android and iOS, the platform ensures that staff can stay connected and manage responsibilities on the go.
By centralising data, enhancing transparency and supporting the needs of vulnerable learners, DCPro Alternative Provision is helping education providers deliver more effective, joined-up support in an increasingly complex landscape.
About Joe:
“I’ve worked in youth engagement and mentoring for around five years, and I’m genuinely passionate about supporting young people who don’t always thrive in traditional mainstream education.
“I believe every child deserves an environment that’s tailored to their individual needs, where they can feel motivated, understood, and able to succeed.
“I use sport as a vehicle to build engagement, confidence, and positive routines, helping young people reconnect with learning in a way that feels right for them.
“Outside of work, I’m a huge sports enthusiast and spend most weekends playing padel, golf, and cricket.
“I also love socialising with family and friends and really appreciate the simple, everyday moments in life.”
Qualifications:
Youth Mental Health First Aid trained;
Level 3 Designated Safeguard Lead;
UEFA C License FA;
Level 2 ECB Cricket;
Prevent Training;
Advanced Safeguarding Children Awareness;
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion;
GDPR Training.
About Dan:
“I’m passionate about helping young people build confidence, feel that they are supported, and that they recognise their own potential through sport.
“I wanted to work in Alternative Provision because I believe every young person deserves the opportunity to succeed in an environment where they feel understood, valued, and supported.
“The most rewarding part of my role is seeing young people grow in confidence and achieve things they may not have believed were possible especially in sport.
“With my help, I hope young people leave with greater self-belief, resilience, and better confidence to move forward positively.
“Outside of work, I enjoy playing cricket and Padel and love spending time with family and friends and making the most of everyday.”
About Jack:
“I’ve been working in AP for a while now, across a few different companies.
“My passion and interest for AP comes from wanting to make a positive difference in people’s lives, through a range of ways and interventions.
“I get a sense of achievement and personal pride from seeing those who I have interacted with improve in some way or form, knowing I may have had even the smallest impact on their success!
“I believe every child and young person deserves a chance at success, and my commitment is to make sure they get it with us!”
Qualifications:
ADHD Awareness
Advanced Safeguarding Children Awareness
Anaphylaxis Awareness
Child Sexual and Child Criminal Exploitation Awareness
Dyslexia Awareness
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
FGM, Forced Marriage and So‑Called Honour‑Based Abuse Awareness
Fire Safety Awareness
GDPR Training
Introduction to Data Protection Awareness
Mental Health Awareness
Online Safety and Harms Awareness
Prevent Duty Training
Safeguarding Children in Education Awareness
UEFA C License FA
About Charlie:
“I joined Emphasis CIC and Sports Coaching Group in 2024 as Commercial Director, with a strong focus on growth, partnerships and creating sustainable opportunities across sport and education.
“Since joining the organisation, I have played a key role in strengthening commercial relationships, supporting new projects, and helping drive forward initiatives that expand participation opportunities for young people and communities.
“This has included growing our Alternative Provision services.
“My work centres around building long-term partnerships that not only support organisational growth but also enhance the impact of programmes delivered on the ground.
“During my spare time I play golf and in the past I have been heavily involved in cricket including being chairman of a local cricket club.”
Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education programmes help young people develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to manage everyday life.
They cover topics such as health and wellbeing, relationships, personal safety and financial awareness, supporting pupils to make informed decisions and become responsible members of society.
The 5 Ways to Wellbeing is a comprehensive six-week programme specifically designed to explore and implement the core pillars of mental health.
Chair-based exercise is an effective form of low-impact physical activity that allows people to stay active while remaining safely supported.
By performing gentle movements while seated, individuals can improve strength, flexibility and circulation without placing strain on the joints.
This type of exercise is particularly beneficial for older adults or those with limited mobility, helping to maintain independence, boost confidence and support overall physical and mental wellbeing.
