Vulnerable primary school children are left to “languish” in “unsuitable” alternative provision (AP) because of lengthy waits for special school places and services, an Ofsted report has found.
Some AP staff told the inspectorate they felt their classrooms were being used as a “dumping ground” with some children waiting three years for specialist support.
The number of pupils aged 11 or under in APs has risen by more than a quarter, to 7,000, in the last five years.
Ofsted research, published today, found many younger children only attended AP part-time for a period of between a few weeks and months.
