An estimated 20,000 pupils are being taught in unregistered alternative provision units – some which do not meet basic safeguarding standards, new research has found.
The study by the Centre for Social Justice found the government nor councils had accurate data on these children – many which have been excluded from mainstream schools – including where they are and what education they are receiving.
Researchers found examples of unregistered AP employing staff that did not have disclosure and barring service (DBS) checks.
In an agricultural education AP, a firearm was discovered in an unlocked room while at another provider, work experience bordered on child labour.
