For the 15^th consecutive year, Junction 16 will continue to offer a robust and consistent quality assurance service for alternative provision in the city (recognised in our most recent Ofsted in May 2016). We remain extremely proud of our services and the support we provide that is valued by schools and young people who access it.

We have extended the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for another 12 months minimum, in order to be able to continue commissioning alternative provision on your behalf. It remains a flexible, competitive and approved way of working with any alternative provider. 

When a school or organisation chooses to buy outside of this system they would need to provide and fund their own ongoing quality assurance checks in line with all elements of the Department for Education (DfE), (2013) Alternative Provision, Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision

Quality Assurance of alternative provision remains a priority.  We carry out lesson observations and quality visits for all providers; we offer appropriate training to them throughout the year; we quality assure and feedback to schools regularly; we ensure Ofsted compliance for all provisions we support; we offer mentor support to each individual and a school link to ensure good communication and liaison.

Changes to our services

COVID-19 has affected all of us in many ways and Junction 16/Kingsmead School have not been exempt from this.

Kingsmead School is unable to commission alternative provision courses in the quantity they have previously. For some provisions, we are therefore unable to secure a reduced cost, flexible arrangement to requesting provision.

We have however worked hard to contract a range of alternative provision that can still be offered to you and your students. We will look to expand this as and when appropriate, and this will include our own internal vocational provisions. Please take a look at our Alternative Provision courses so that we can enquire on your behalf about specific provision. 

We are very pleased to be able to continue offering all of the services you have come to know and respect of Junction 16, including commissioning, contractual management, one point of contact mentor service, quality assurance and much more. The only change here is that we have introduced fair and necessary service charges in order for us to facilitate these services on your behalf. Please click here to visit our J16 Services page for more details.

We will endeavour to maintain excellent relationships with the young people, parents or carers, schools and providers who we work with and will continue to strive to provide the highest quality, supportive service, to all those who access it.