School day release programme

[Pepperpotladles]

Posting here for traffic as need fast responses and although the SEN section here is fantastic for support it's often slow at getting replies.
Does anyone have any experience of their secondary school age child being allowed to attend an alternative educational setting 1 day a week on a permanent basis through year 11? As a way to help them cope with school and as a way to help coax them back in to education after a period of school refusal?
I'm not looking for opinions on whether people agree or disagree with doing this.
I'm looking for people with experience of doing this.
I've found an educational setting that offers 1 day a week for kids who are struggling at school in years 10 and 11. They call it a 'school day release programme'. They teach the kids vocational skills. It's a college setting.
It sounds brilliant. But the sticking point is that school have to be in agreement with this and pay the college a fee.
I'm expecting resistance from school.
Is there any experience out there, or anyone that could provide practical with this?
Please note - NO EHCP in place
Thank you!

Do you have an ehcp? Get it written in there and school have no choice. It can work well, very well. There is also the danger that the student enjoys that one day a week far more as it's a far more appropriate style of teaching for their style of learning, and then things decline at school rather than improve. It's always worth trying though

It is possible.

However, without an EHCP, lots of schools would refuse because they wouldn’t have the funding. When there isn’t an EHCP, schools are more likely to agree if there are significant behavioural problems or significant difficulties with engagement. It is worth asking.

Is DC back attending school full time now? If not, it is possible to get the LA to fund alternative provision as per their duty under section 19 of the Education Act 1996 to ensure DC still receive a suitable full time education.

If you haven’t already, request an EHCNA.

My nephew did this (suggested and encouraged by the school).

He went one day a week to a college to learn painting and decorating but they taught other things too like mechanics and hair and beauty.

I hate to say it (and I hope you have better luck) but there was constant fighting and 2 actual stabbings during the time he was there and he only lasted 3 months.

I think the issue was that they were effectively throwing a lot of kids together who all had their own reasons for being 'school refusal', and so many of the issues were behavioural.

Don’t need an EHCP, look at guidance for Alternative Provision.

I’ve definitely taught kids who have done this and it’s worked with great success in most cases.

It sounds great in theory. But I suspect there may be issues around cost - the school won't save any money by him not being there for 1 day, if anything it could cost them extra through potentially needing to catch him up on the work.

Could you afford to fund it yourself if that's allowed?

I would suggest thinking of all the potential reasons why school could say no, and try to think of answers/work arounds for these.