For schools and commissioners

Commissioning Pathways: the practical information.

Cost, responsibilities, referral, reporting, safeguarding and the placement boundary in one school-facing briefing.

Education professionals reviewing a Pathways referral together

2026/27 working prices

Programme cost at a glance.

Day rate£210per pupil

2 days each week£5,040per 12-week placement

3 days each week£7,560per 12-week placement

Visits, reporting and other services described in the current programme brief are included. The individual agreement confirms the final timetable, funding and payment arrangements.

Commissioning boundary

A helping hand, not a replacement school.

NLG Pathways provides supplementary education and attendance support. The pupil’s school remains their main education provider, retains its responsibilities and continues to be part of the plan.

Attendance coding, transport, funding, information sharing and statutory responsibilities must be confirmed for each placement.

Working agreement

What each side brings to the placement.

pathways provides

A clear programme and useful information

A low-effort first-stage referral and suitability discussion.
A jointly agreed timetable, baseline, targets and review points.
Attendance information and important welfare updates.
Regular progress reporting against agreed milestones.
Barrier learning and practical strategies shared where appropriate.
End-of-programme planning and a positive showcase.

The school provides

Context, coordination and continued connection

A named professional who can coordinate the placement.
An accurate attendance and engagement picture.
Relevant safeguarding and welfare information.
School attendance expectations for non-pathways days.
Information about progress and difficulty within school.
Participation in reviews, family communication and exit planning.
Agreed transport and payment arrangements.

Reporting and review

Measure the pupil’s whole educational week.

pathways attendance is only one part of the picture. Reviews should show whether participation and confidence are strengthening in the places that matter.

01Baseline
Agree the current attendance picture, barriers and intended outcomes.
02Regular updates
Share attendance, engagement, welfare information and useful observations.
03Joint review
Bring pathways evidence together with the school’s experience.
04Exit planning
Agree what should continue and how stronger school engagement will be supported.

Safeguarding and accountability

Essential information must travel with the pupil.

pathways works within National Learning Group’s safeguarding requirements, including safer recruitment and appropriate DBS and identity checks. Referrals must follow the school’s safeguarding and information-sharing duties.

Placement-specific procedures, escalation routes and named contacts are confirmed as part of the agreement.

Policies and documents

Documents and lower-commitment contact

Get the information needed for internal approval.

01Request the service specificationProgramme, boundaries and practical arrangements 02Request the current policy packSafeguarding, privacy, equality and complaints 03Review outcomes and evidenceWhat is measured and what pathways can claim

Next step

Discuss a pupil before making a referral.

Call the team for an initial conversation, or use the short form when you are ready to share the starting picture.

Call 0191 743 3360 Refer a pupil