Alternative Provision
That Actually Works

If your child or young person has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), funding for alternative provision can be arranged either via a school (even if your child is not currently attending in person) or directly from the Local Authority as part of the EHCP provision.

All our sessions can be mapped to individual learning outcomes and support the goals outlined in EHCPs or education plans. We attend annual reviews and contribute progress evidence to support your child's plan.

EOTAS is the legal framework for educating young people who cannot attend a mainstream or special school. As an EOTAS provider, Player Ready delivers education that meets the student's needs while fulfilling the local authority's duty to provide suitable education.

We work closely with the referring school or local authority to align our delivery with the student's overall education plan.

If your child has been out of education for 15 days or more, the Local Authority has a legal duty under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 to arrange suitable alternative education. This is often short-term or interim funding while a longer-term placement is found.

We can accept Section 19 referrals and begin provision quickly — typically within 5-10 working days of referral.

Some families receive Direct Payments or Personal Budgets to arrange their child's education provision themselves. Player Ready can be paid via these funding routes, giving families control over where and how their child learns.

For families who cannot access formal funding — including Elective Home Educators or those awaiting an EHCP — self-funded places are available. 1:1 sessions are available at £40/hr, and our in-venue small group sessions are £18.75/hr (maximum 3:1 ratio).

We also offer AP-Lite: reduced-length sessions sitting between our Clubs and full Alternative Provision. These two-hour SEND-friendly groups of up to six young people provide access to our provision at a more affordable rate.

Schools can fund placements directly, even in areas where we are not yet on the Local Authority's approved provider list. This is common for schools with students on reduced timetables or those needing short-term reengagement support.

No. We are not a school and we don't replicate the school environment. Player Ready is a non-school alternative provision provider — part-time, flexible, and built around the individual. We offer up to 15 hours per week for under-16s, delivered in a relaxed, tech-focused environment.

AP (Alternative Provision) placements are usually commissioned by a school or local authority to supplement or replace in-school provision. EOTAS (Education Otherwise Than At School) is a different legal route where the LA arranges education outside school under Section 19. We support both pathways and can advise on the most appropriate route for your child.

We are approved with over 40 Local Authorities and growing. However, we can still work with self-funding parents, direct referrals from schools, or via Direct Payments regardless of being listed on a particular Local Authority's approved list. If your LA isn't listed, contact us and we can help fast-track the approval process.

We typically start provision within 5-10 working days of referral. We offer free discovery sessions so the young person can meet their mentor and explore whether Player Ready is the right fit before committing. We can also arrange intro videos or online meet-ups to reduce anxiety before the first session.

Students can work towards AQA Unit Awards (AQA Centre 84612) across our curriculum areas. Post-16 students can pursue NOCN accredited qualifications in Skills for Employment, Training and Personal Development (SETPD) at Entry Level 3 through Level 3, available as Award, Certificate, and Diploma levels. Player Ready is an approved NOCN Centre (No. 12116).

Self-funded 1:1 sessions are £40 per hour. In-venue small group sessions (maximum 3:1 ratio) are £18.75 per hour. We also offer AP-Lite: reduced-length two-hour SEND-friendly group sessions at a lower cost, sitting between our Clubs and full AP. These are ideal for Elective Home Educators and families without funded support.