For schools and local authorities
Placements you can account for
Commissioning alternative provision means answering for it later: to a panel, to a parent, at an annual review. This page covers what we report on, how often, and who you deal with, so you can judge whether a placement with us will hold up.
Why schools and local authorities choose OpenGate
One standard across every region
Each region has its own team and safeguarding lead, but works to the same quality standards and the same reporting framework. What you get in one region is what you get in the next.
Small settings, high staff ratios
Centres are deliberately small. Behaviour and learning needs get seen and responded to rather than managed at a distance, which is usually what has broken down by the time a student reaches us.
A named contact, not a switchboard
You deal with someone who knows the case, from the first conversation through to review meetings, rather than a general enquiries line.
Placements with a defined exit
Every placement is built around a specific next step and reviewed against it at least every half-term, so a placement with us does not quietly become permanent by default.
What we report on
Reporting goes to the referring school and the local authority on a set schedule agreed at placement, not just when a review falls due.
Attendance
Session-by-session attendance, shared with the referring school and the local authority on an agreed schedule rather than only at review points.
Engagement
How a student is actually participating: sessions accessed and completed, and where support is being stepped up or eased back.
Progress
Academic progress measured against the baseline taken at assessment, alongside progress on the targets set in the placement plan.
Outcomes
The destination a placement is working towards, and whether it was reached: a return to mainstream, a specialist setting, or a post-16 route.
Who you'll be dealing with
Your first conversation and every review after it goes through the same people.
OpenGate Education North
Serving Liverpool and Tees Valley
Nancy Wright
[]
Justin Lewis
[]
OpenGate Education Central
Serving Central Bedfordshire, Bedford Borough, and Buckinghamshire
Hayley Harrison
[]
Ready to refer a young person?
Start the form and we'll come back to you with next steps and which centre fits.