A Parent's Guide to alternatived educaiton funding
Is your child struggling at school, refusing to attend, or finding traditional classroom learning difficult? You may be able to access funding for alternative education – even if your child doesn't have an EHCP.
For many families, mainstream education simply isn't working for their child. This might be because of anxiety, additional learning needs, difficulties with attendance, bullying, or because their child struggles to engage in a traditional classroom environment.
As a parent, it can be difficult to know what support is available, who to speak to and whether alternative education is something you would have to pay for yourself.
At Harness Change, part of Cumbria Rural Academy CIC, we work with children and young people who benefit from a different approach to learning. Our equine-led alternative education programmes combine practical activities, personal development and educational opportunities in a supportive outdoor environment.
The good news is that there are several potential funding routes, depending on your child's circumstances.
1. My Child Is Refusing to Go to School
School refusal, often described as emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), can happen for many reasons.
Some children experience overwhelming anxiety about attending school. Others may struggle with social situations, sensory environments, academic pressures, bullying or difficulties that have not yet been identified.
If your child is regularly missing school, there may be options for alternative education.
Who can help?
Start by speaking to your child's school SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator), attendance lead or headteacher.
Ask whether the school can arrange and fund alternative provision to help your child re-engage with education.
If your child is unable to attend school because of physical or mental health difficulties, or is otherwise not receiving suitable education in circumstances covered by the law, the local authority may have a duty to arrange education under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996.
This does not automatically mean funding for a particular programme, but it does mean the local authority may need to consider how your child can continue learning.
You do not need an EHCP to ask for this support.
2. My Child Has Autism, ADHD or Other Special Educational Needs
Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) may find traditional education challenging, even when they are academically capable. Some children struggle with sensory overload, emotional regulation, social interaction, confidence or the pace and structure of classroom learning.
Schools have responsibilities to identify and support additional needs, and may be able to fund external alternative education as part of their support arrangements.
If your child's needs are more complex, you can also request an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment from your local authority.
An assessment may lead to an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), which identifies the educational support your child requires.
Where appropriate, an EHCP can include specialist or alternative educational provision.
A formal diagnosis is not required to request an EHC needs assessment. What matters is the evidence of your child's educational needs and the support they may require.
3. My Child Has an EHCP but School Still Isn't Working
Having an EHCP does not necessarily mean that the current educational setting is meeting your child's needs. If your child continues to struggle, you can request an early review of their EHCP. This provides an opportunity to discuss whether their educational provision needs to change.
In some circumstances, alternative education can be included within an EHCP. Where education in a school setting would be inappropriate, the local authority may consider Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS). EOTAS is a specific legal arrangement and is different from parents choosing to home educate.
Funding depends on the child's assessed needs and the provision agreed by the local authority.
4. My Child Is at Risk of Exclusion or Has Been Excluded
Some children struggle to manage their behaviour in mainstream education, particularly where underlying needs have not been fully understood.
If your child is at risk of suspension or permanent exclusion, speak to the school about whether alternative provision could help address the difficulties before the situation escalates. Schools may commission programmes focused on engagement, emotional regulation, relationships and personal development.
For children who have been permanently excluded, the local authority generally has a duty to arrange suitable full-time education from the sixth school day. Alternative education can provide a different environment in which children can rebuild their confidence and develop skills to support their next steps.
5. My Child Is Home Educated – Can We Get Funding?
If you have chosen to educate your child at home, you are generally responsible for arranging and funding their education. However, it is still worth speaking to your local authority about any support or local opportunities that may be available.
If you are considering home education because your child cannot attend school due to unmet needs or health difficulties, seek independent advice before removing them from the school register. Elective home education is different from a local authority arranging alternative education, and the distinction can affect what support is available.
6. My Child Is Still Attending School but Isn't Thriving
You don't have to wait until your child stops attending school to ask for additional support.
If your child is becoming increasingly anxious, disengaged or unhappy, an early intervention programme may help prevent further difficulties.
Schools can sometimes fund part-time alternative education alongside mainstream attendance. For example, a child might attend Harness Change for one day a week while continuing their other lessons at school.
The aim may be to rebuild confidence, improve engagement, develop practical skills or support a successful return to fuller school attendance.
How Much Funding Could Be Available?
There is no standard grant amount that every parent can claim for alternative education.
Funding depends on your child's needs, the responsibilities of their school or local authority, and the educational provision agreed.
Some schools may fund a few hours of alternative education each week, while children with more complex needs may require a larger, individually arranged package.
Funding is normally agreed directly with the educational provider rather than paid to parents.
At Harness Change, we can provide information about our programmes, proposed costs and learning outcomes to support discussions with schools and local authorities.
What Does Alternative Education at Harness Change Look Like?
We believe that learning doesn't have to happen entirely within a classroom.
Horses provide unique opportunities to develop important skills through practical experiences, observation, communication and responsibility.
Our programmes can incorporate:
Changing Lives Through Horses: Developing six key life skills – confidence, communication, relationships, teamwork, responsibility and perseverance.
Equine care and practical learning: Developing knowledge, independence and responsibility through meaningful activities.
Functional Skills: Applying English and maths to real-life situations in the equine environment.
Personal development: Supporting emotional awareness, self-regulation, problem-solving and confidence.
Qualifications and progression: Opportunities to work towards relevant BHS and equine-related awards, depending on the programme.
We work with families, schools and other professionals to identify suitable learning objectives and create structured programmes that recognise each child's individual needs.
How to Request Funding: Five Steps for Parents
Step 1 – Contact your child's school
Ask to speak to the SENCO, inclusion lead or headteacher. Explain the challenges your child is experiencing and why a practical alternative education programme may help.
Step 2 – Ask about funding
Ask whether the school can commission alternative provision or whether your child's circumstances should be referred to the local authority.
Step 3 – Gather supporting information
School reports, attendance records, professional assessments and information about your child's needs can all help demonstrate why additional support may be appropriate.
Step 4 – Request a meeting
Ask for a meeting to discuss your child's educational needs, the support currently available and whether a placement at Harness Change could form part of their education plan.
Step 5 – Contact Harness Change
We can provide details of our educational programmes, learning outcomes, prices and relevant supporting information for schools or local authorities considering a placement.
Where Can Parents Find Further Advice?
For families in Westmorland and Furness, the local authority SEND team can provide information about EHC needs assessments and educational support.
You can also contact SENDIASS, which offers free, impartial information and advice to parents and young people about SEND.
The charity IPSEA provides independent information about education law, EHCPs and local authority responsibilities.
Useful websites include:
Every Child Deserves the Opportunity to Learn
When a child is struggling with school, it can be incredibly worrying for the whole family.
But struggling in a traditional educational setting does not mean a child cannot learn, develop or achieve.
Sometimes, a different environment and a different approach can help them rediscover their confidence and enthusiasm for learning.
At Harness Change, we are passionate about helping children and young people discover their strengths, develop essential life skills and work towards a positive future.
Interested in exploring alternative education for your child?
Get in touch with our team at Harness Change, Cumbria Rural Academy CIC, to learn more about our programmes and the information we can provide to support a funding request.
Please note: Funding decisions are made by schools and local authorities. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances, and a place at Harness Change cannot be guaranteed through any particular funding route.
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