Alternative Provision Resources
Whether you are delivering directly to young people, supporting staff development, or shaping strategic planning, these tools aim to equip you with practical guidance, evidence-informed approaches, and examples of effective practice tailored to the unique context of AP environments.
The Alternative Provision toolkit
The Alternative Provision toolkit positions PE and sport not just as physical pursuits, but as vital tools for improving the mental health, social skills, and sense of belonging of pupils in AP. It encourages SGOs and Active Partnerships to think differently, act compassionately, and collaborate authentically with staff and pupils to co-create offers that work for their unique contexts.
It outlines a six-step framework to help build meaningful, inclusive, and sustainable relationships with AP settings, focusing on the transformative power of physical activity.
This guide also includes practical advice, data insights, lived experience quotes, and links to supportive resources and research. Designed with flexibility in mind, the toolkit helps partners start small, learn together, and grow their reach to engage more AP settings in School Games and physical activity offers.
Benefits
For Active Partnerships and SGOs:
- Offers a clear, six-step approach to build a locally tailored and inclusive School Games offer for APs.
- Helps SGOs navigate unfamiliar settings and better understand the AP landscape
- Builds a case for inclusion and helps integrate AP into wider county-level planning and reporting
- Encourages collaboration through county-wide reflections, case studies, and co-design.
For Alternative Provision schools:
- Ensures the offer reflects their pupils’ needs, especially those with SEMH, SEND, or exclusion histories
- Opens conversations about CPD, outdoor space limitations, and resource needs
- Creates opportunities to be part of a wider system through School Games Marks, partnerships, and grants.
For pupils in Alternative Provision:
- Sport becomes a tool for connection, confidence, and belonging
- Activities support emotional regulation, resilience, and social skill development
- Youth voice and co-design elements give pupils ownership and visibility in shaping what works for them.
Alternative Provision videos
This video series, developed by the Youth Sport Trust in partnership with expert researchers, schools and National Governing Bodies, explores the power of sport in Alternative Provision (AP) settings.
Through animation, expert insight, and real-world case studies, these videos are designed to support educators, practitioners, and policymakers in understanding and enhancing sport’s role in engaging young people in AP. The series forms part of a wider commitment to improving PE and Sport in Alternative Provision Settings.
Evidence of impact
This collection of research explores the role and impact of physical education (PE) and sport in Alternative Provision (AP) settings.
Together, the papers highlight how PE and sport can support engagement, wellbeing, and inclusion for young people in AP, while also examining the structural and practical challenges that shape provision.
The research offers important insights for practitioners, policymakers, and stakeholders working to improve opportunities for pupils in non-mainstream education.
If you would like to submit a case study which further evidences the impact of work within Alternative Provision schools, please contact Katie Phillips.
My Personal Best for Alternative Provision
The My Personal Best (My PB) programme is based on integrating life skills development into PE for pupils attending Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) or Alternative provision (AP) settings.
Find out moreHear from us
Schools can register to receive our monthly AP newsletter, created in collaboration with PRUsAP, a national organisation who represent PRUs and APs. Please get in touch to be added to our mailing list.
Get in touch