Bridgepoint CIC

09/06/2026

If you have a child in Alternative Provision could you take the time to fill out this please

Over the last few years I've seen too many children, including my own placed into Alternative Provision and then effectively forgotten about. The placement is made, the box is ticked and everyone moves on.

Alternative Provision is supporting some of the most vulnerable children in the country, yet the level of oversight and accountability concerns me greatly. Many are educated outside of school, often at significant cost, but I have serious concerns about accountability, oversight and whether anyone is consistently checking that children are actually receiving what they need.

Are EHCPs actually being delivered? Are children making progress? Are they receiving meaningful education? Are families being kept informed?

Also, is anyone checking whether what's being delivered matches what was promised?

Many providers advertise structured programmes, qualifications, life skills, independence pathways and educational outcomes. But are these opportunities actually being delivered, completed and evidenced, or are they simply promises on paper. Families are saying otherwise

I'm gathering experiences from families across the country. Once I've collected enough evidence, I will be taking the findings to my meeting with the local authority and then MPs, SEND leaders and anyone else with the power to influence change.

This is such an important change that NEEDS to happen.

So if your child is in, or has previously accessed, Alternative Provision, please complete the survey below.

This survey aims to gather the experiences of families whose children access Alternative Provision (AP), EOTAS or bespoke education packages. I am exploring whether children are receiving the education, support and EHCP provision they have been promised, how well families are informed and involved,....

21/05/2026

UPDATE- Welcome Annie to the Bridgepoint team

Annie is a Registered Mental Health Nurse with over 10 years’ experience supporting children, young people, and families within mental health services. She currently works within CAMHS and previously spent 8 years working in adult mental health, specialising in supporting young adults with personality disorders, emotional dysregulation, and complex emotional needs.

Annie has now joined Bridgepoint, working in partnership through Root & Regulate to deliver emotionally informed support for young people, parents, and carers both within the Bridgepoint hub and across wider community projects.

She has extensive experience delivering DBT-informed approaches and supporting individuals and families navigating overwhelm, anxiety, neuro divergence, emotional distress, and challenges within family life. Her work focuses on helping families better understand emotional regulation, reduce overwhelm, and develop calmer, more connected ways to navigate difficult moments together.

Annie is passionate about creating safe, non-judgemental spaces where young people and parents feel genuinely understood, supported, and more confident in responding to emotional distress.

As part of Bridgepoint’s multidisciplinary and lived-experience-led approach, Annie will also support the development of workshops, family support services, and emotionally informed interventions across both in-person and online support spaces.

In her spare time, Annie enjoys baking, spending time outdoors with her family, and attempting to burn off all the cakes she has baked and eaten at the gym.

03/04/2026

Over 143,000 children in England are missing education each year.

Many are not just absent — they are waiting for school placements, or waiting for support due to local authority delays in issuing EHCPs, leaving them completely out of education.

There is no clear national figure for how many are waiting for provision — but it is recognised as one of the most common reasons children are missing education altogether.

At the same time:
• Nearly 1 in 5 children have SEND
• Children with SEND are statistically more likely to be excluded

And behind these numbers is the reality:
• Regression
• Isolation
• Needs and disabilities no longer able to be managed without the right support
• Declining mental health and unaddressed trauma

This is the gap.

And this is exactly why Bridgepoint exists.

31/03/2026

and the painting for our hub is about finished! We are so happy with this, Charlotte did a fantastic job.