Alternative Provision Development Fund (APDF)

Alternative Provision Development Fund (APDF)

The Alternative Provision Development Fund (APDF) is a ring‑fenced capital fund (£400,000 over 3 years) provided by Wokingham Borough Council in partnership with Wokingham Education Partnership, to support secondary schools to develop or expand in‑school alternative provision (AP).  

The fund aims to strengthen local, high‑quality in‑school AP to reduce reliance on off-site, unregistered AP and enable pupils to be better supported to remain engaged in education, maintain a sense of belonging, and benefit from improved oversight of safeguarding and quality of provision. It supports provision for pupils with SEMH needs, EBSA, those at risk of exclusion, those with persistent or severe absence, or who are struggling to access the full mainstream curriculum. 

APDF is available to Wokingham secondary schools that wish to develop provision both for their own pupils and as part of a co‑ordinated local network of in‑school AP.

 

Key Dates – Alternative Provision Development Fund (APDF)

11th May 2026 Deadline for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to be submitted to ChildrensCommissioningTeam@wokingham.gov.uk 
19th May 2026

EOIs discussed at the SENDAP Working Group (9am-11am).  

  • Any schools who have submitted an EOI will be invited to this meeting.  Please attend to be part of this discussion.
15th June 2026 Full application deadline to be submitted to ChildrensCommissioningTeam@wokingham.gov.uk 
16th –23rd June 2026 Applications shared with SENDAP for review and clarification
30th June 2026  Applicants will present their bid at the SENDAP Working Group.
9th July 2026 Recommendation and funding approval at WBC Commissioning and Insights Board 
23rd July 2026 Decisions ratified at WBC Education Sufficiency Board
24th July 2026 Confirmation of successful bids will be received via email.

 Any expression of interest should include:

  • A brief overview of what the provision will offer and the intended outcome
  • The name of the key contact leading on the project
  • Contact details for the key contact

Submit the above by Monday 11th May 2026 to ChildrensCommissioningTeam@wokingham.gov.uk 

Further information and the application form can be found here:

 

Should you wish to seek further information or have a query, please email:

laura.mackenzie@wokingham.gov.uk