Home Ed but also considering AP

[Lucaslovesfelicity]

Hi all,

My 12 year old son has not attended school since the start of December. He has ASD and ADD and has really strugged over the past couple of months. I feel that mainstream is really not right for him and would be happy to deregister him in a heartbeat... which to be fair, I am in the process of doing.
However, he attends a computing/animation club outside of school twice a month and I have recently discovered that they are listed as an Alternative Provision in the local area. I’m now thinking that this is something that would really accessible for him but still don’t feel that a part time school timetable in would work alongside it. Does anyone know if accessing an AP when home educating is an option? I’m assuming not as it’s obviiusly funded by the LEA but just wanted to ask if anyone has had any experience with this?

TIA

I am no expert in Alternative Provision so hopefully someone more knowledgeable will pop up. However my understanding is that it is arranged by the school of L.A. when a child can not cope with full time mainstream provision so I believe your son would need to be on a school roll to be eligible. It also depends on the set up of the individual AP (I think some falls under the 14-16yo college scheme, if so - I could well be wrong- eligibility may be a factor).
I think it is worth having a conversation with the school and/or LA before deregistering to see if anything can be arranged that would let him attend the AP setting without the part-time school or some other suitable alternative. If you don't ask you don't get.