What is the Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce?

City Of Birmingham School (COBS) have been given the exciting opportunity to take part in a Department of Education (DfE) project. This started from to September 2021). Essentially, the project provides funding for COBS to access a range of specialist services to support our young people, the group of specialists will form an ‘AP Task Force’.

Please see the guidelines provided by the DFE below:

The pilot will run for 2 years and test the impact of co-locating in AP schools, specialist workers from across health, education, social care, youth services and youth justice. Co-locating this workforce full-time in AP should remove the need for referrals to outside services and provide opportunities for practitioners to build trusted relationships with AP pupils.

The Specialist Taskforce will focus on reducing truancy, NEET(Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rates, and involvement in serious violence & exploitation, and improving mental health and well-being.