Ongoing Monitoring of Providers
Providers who successfully met the tender requirements and were awarded an Essex contact in September 2025 are subject to and ongoing quality assurance checks to ensure continued compliance with the IPES framework. This can include:
• Scheduled and unannounced visits
• Annual safeguarding and compliance audits
• Review of updated policies and procedures
• Feedback from students, parents/carers, and professionals
• Monitoring of attendance, engagement, and outcomes
• A system of reviewing and responding to concerns raised by schools, professionals or parents
Any concerns or issues identified are addressed promptly, and providers are supported to make improvements where necessary. In cases where standards are not maintained, the Quality Assurance Team may suspend or withdraw commissioning.
If you have a concern about a provider please visit: Alternative provision: Reporting a concern about an AP | Essex Schools Infolink
Commissioning schools remain fully responsible for the safe placement of all pupils on their roll accessing alternative provisions. Further guidance on commissioning unregistered AP can be found in the Safeguarding Commissioning Alternative Education guidance.