West Midlands and national based schools
West Midlands & National Schools Partnership
The West Midlands and National Schools Partnership provides schools and trusts with access to high-quality, quality-assured alternative provision tailored to the needs of individual pupils. Working with schools across the West Midlands and beyond, we support leaders to identify effective provision for young people who may be experiencing barriers to education, be at risk of exclusion, or require a more personalised approach to learning.
Our extensive network of specialist providers offers a broad range of academic, vocational, therapeutic, and wellbeing-focused programmes designed to re-engage learners, build confidence, and improve educational outcomes. We work closely with schools to ensure placements are carefully matched, regularly monitored, and aligned with each pupil’s needs and aspirations.
By combining expertise, robust quality assurance, and a commitment to inclusion, the partnership helps schools create positive pathways for students, enabling them to achieve success in education and beyond.
Tier 2 - Aspiration Pathway
Schools can benefit from a diverse range of over 220 courses available through the CAP Directory as part of our Awards, attainment and Personal development Offer. Coventry Alternative Provision collaborates with more than 90 Procured Training Providers, delivering an array of courses across three key categories: Work-Based Learning, Curriculum Support, and Employability and Personal Development.
The Awards, attainment and Personal development Offer provides schools with access to programmes designed to assist young people through various practical, supportive, and character-building initiatives. These programmes are carefully crafted to align with a broad and balanced curriculum, aiming to facilitate the attainment of accreditations where possible.
This tier should be viewed as a proactive approach to address the support needs that students may have.
Referral considerations
School considerations when making an application on behalf of a student:
- Does the student need a bespoke curriculum to meet their learning needs?
- Does the curriculum offer meet the students interests, passions and aspirations?
- How will the course / vocational qualification enhance the students educational journey?
- Would an application to Tier 1 provide the right support, at the right time, in the right place?
The duration of these courses may range from half a term to a full academic year, with provisions for progression into a second year as necessary. Coventry Alternative Provision accepts applications for these programmes year-round, without any restrictions on submission timing. Schools are encouraged to finalise a Commissioning Agreement as part of the application process to evidence why the programme is considered the most suitable for the student.
CAP referral pathway
- CAP Multi Agency application form completed via CAP website
- Application pack received by CAP Team and reviewed.
- Application pack sent to the requested Training Provider via Datalocker.
- School to contact Training Provider upon submission to arrange the interview.
- Interview held and Training Provider submit an application response, which is received by CAP.
- Application response processed and sent to school to confirm start date.
- CAP process on systems and set up training record.
Submit a CAP multi-agency application
CAP student risk assessment
Coventry Alternative Provision provide a template Risk Assessment for schools to use if required. Download and print the CAP student risk assessment. [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/8234/cap-risk-assessment-2526]
If schools continue to use their own risk assessments they must be clear, detailed and relevant with updated information upon the point of referral.
We will not accept any risk assessments that have been completed longer than three months prior to the point of referral.
Tier 2 - Therapeutic pathway (Insight and Flourish)
Coventry Alternative Provision has established the Emotional well-being and therapeutic programmes to provide specialised assistance to young people in need of focused support. This has been further categorised into two distinct offers; 'Insight' and 'Flourish'.
Insight
Coventry Alternative Provision provides specialised Social Development courses for six weeks, 1 day per week, designed to address specific areas of concern impacting student development. The team actively seeks new providers offering high-quality courses that address and raise awareness of prevailing social trends. Schools have the opportunity to apply for these courses based on student need.
Flourish
Coventry Alternative Provision has developed the Flourish Programmes, which utilise therapeutic methods to evaluate students facing learning barriers that impede their educational access and affect their attendance.
These programmes are twelve weeks (2 days per week) and require a level of commitment from schools to provide a caseworker and attend regular review meetings. All Flourish programmes must be applied for using the CAP Referral linked below, these will all go to the Panel.
Referral considerations
Questions the CAP Review and Authorisation Panel will seek clarity on:
- school has a designated case-worker (significant adult) assigned to the student?
- school commitment to attend review meetings?
- school reviewed and adapted the student curriculum/timetable? (Tier 1 ?)
- if other key agencies have previously been involved, have the recommended strategies been implemented and what are the impact/outcomes of these?
- how will the school create capacity to implement any suggested strategies from the programme?
- (if appropriate) How does provision meet the EHCP requirements?
- started an Early Help offer to family? Gained consent from parents and recorded on EHM?
(Discussion outcomes will impact on decision making)
Referral pathway
- Multi Agency application form completed via CAP website- Insight processed the same as Tier 1.
- CAP review and authorisation panel
- Panel outcome document shared with referring school.
- If Approved the student interview can be scheduled by training provider.
- If not approved CAP supports the school by exploring alternatives.
- Application response processed and sent to school to confirm start date.