ISAP workshops take place with specialist partners Impetus
Colleagues from across Co-op Academies Trust recently took part in workshops focused on strengthening In-School Alternative Provision (ISAP) for secondary students, in partnership with education investment charity Impetus.
Held between January and March 2025 at 1 Angel Square, Manchester, the intensive sessions brought together 23 colleagues from across the Trust and six representatives from Impetus and The Difference. The specialist workshops aimed to redefine support for the Trust’s most vulnerable learners, moving beyond behaviour interventions to tackle lost learning and unmet special educational needs, including Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
Across the four days, participants developed a shared vision, explored eligibility criteria and discussed how to measure the impact of interventions. There were also a number of lively debates, break out activities and guest speakers including the founder of Pears Family School, Neil Dawson.
Dan Conley, Director of In-School Alternative Provision, said: “Each workshop provided an opportunity to explore the mission, design and outcomes for students accessing alternative provision and featured lots of healthy debate and perspectives from many angles.
“The next steps are for the formalised outcomes of the workshops to guide the updating of the ISAP Operating Procedure into a new ISAP Handbook, to enable the same guiding principles to work across the richly varied provisions.
“The partnership with Impetus has been invaluable, bringing together staff with a broad range of specialisms and objectives, both within the Trust and from outside it.
“Our ambition now is for our guiding principles, clear framework and relational approach to act as a model of excellence, nationally.”
“Collaborating with Co-op Academies Trust on these workshops has been a wonderful experience for Impetus. Together, we’re striving to create a model that not only addresses the additional needs of the Trust’s most vulnerable learners but also sets an ambitious standard for relational and inclusive support. We’re excited for the journey ahead!
“During the recent design workshops, we explored what it truly takes to deliver high-quality In-School Alternative Provision (ISAP). From identifying which students are most likely to benefit, to defining the meaningful changes ISAP can help them achieve, the focus has remained clear: this is about support, not sanction. The approach is rooted in strong relationships between students, staff, and families, and maintaining close ties between the ISAP and main school. Returning to the main school, alongside peers and with access to a full and rounded academic experience, remains the ultimate goal for students spending time in ISAP.
“During the workshops all participants brought a fantastic level of energy, passion, and expertise to the table, and we were impressed by how the group engaged thoughtfully and respectfully with topics that were sometimes difficult and divisive."