A PROJECT to help young people reintegrate into mainstream or special schools is to have £362,000 ploughed into it as part of a £4 million government Innovation Fund investment.

The scheme is to help improve outcomes for young people with additional needs in Bradford.

The project is being led by the Bradford Central Pupil Referral Unit which will provide key worker support for children to help them succeed.

It is being run in partnership with teaching school alliances, local secondary schools and local authorities

Recently, Councillor David Ward (Lib Dem, Bolton and Undercliffe) who has recently joined the board of governors for the Unit, called for a comprehensive review of the district’s alternative provision, which provides education for children who have been excluded from school.

His remarks followed a national report - Making The Difference: Breaking the link between school exclusion and social exclusion - which he said painted a bleak picture and he wanted to see how the situation compares in Bradford.

Today’s funding announcement by School Standards Minister Nick Gibb states the funding for Bradford will help develop news ways of improving alternative provision for children educated outside mainstream or special schools to have the chance to succeed later in life.

Mr Gibb said: “Every child, no matter the challenges they face in their life, should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential through an excellent education. School standards in this country are rising, but for some children – those who are excluded or cannot attend mainstream or special schools – this quality varies greatly, with low expectations about their outcomes and futures.

“There are some excellent examples of good alternative provision but we need to raise standards across the board if we want young people to succeed. Projects like this in Bradford, backed by more than £360,000, will develop new ways of doing this which can be shared around the country, so that we can improve education for every child and receive support to meet their individual needs.”

The Department for Education says there is evidence which shows children educated in alternative provision are less likely to achieve good GCSE grades and are less likely to be in education, employment or training post-16. The project, led by Bradford Central Pupil Referral Unit aims to help young people reintegrate back into mainstream or special schools by providing key worker support for children to help them succeed.

The Innovation Fund was launched in March this year.