London East Alternative Provision, London
London East Alternative Provision is a pru school for pupils aged 5 to 19 in London. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2024.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
London East Alternative Provision in detail
London East Alternative Provision in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Our students come to us at various points during their time at school - usually as a result of their previous school placement having broken down, whether through ill-health, behaviour issues or other difficulties - frequently feeling less than positive about themselves and their life chances."
The school runs after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Where pupils go next
Of the 68 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 62% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 19% to a further education college and 2% to an apprenticeship.
Who goes there
49.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 36.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (36%), Asian (32%) and Mixed (19%).
In 2026, 32 pupils (31.7%) received SEN support and 22 (21.8%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is Stepney Green Underground Station, about 180 metres away (roughly a 2-minute walk).
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Stepney Green Station, 120 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood London East Alternative Provision stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at helping vulnerable young people feel safe and supported while achieving well. Staff genuinely care about pupils and use sophisticated behaviour support strategies tailored to each child's needs, helping many pupils dramatically improve their behaviour. The curriculum is ambitious and engaging, with a particular strength in reading and a focus on preparing pupils for successful futures through work experience and careers guidance.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional behaviour support and safeguarding - staff use precise information about each pupil's needs, triggers, and trauma to build trust and help pupils regulate
- Outstanding reading provision - systematic phonics teaching, early assessment, and school-wide focus on vocabulary and oracy help pupils improve significantly
- Highly personalised curriculum - carefully designed to fill knowledge gaps, address misconceptions, and build on what pupils know step by step
- Comprehensive support for pupils with SEND - working with educational psychologists and speech and language therapists to adapt learning effectively
- Exceptional enrichment and careers guidance - work experience with major employers, sixth-form provision, and regular visits to museums and galleries
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
After-school clubs and lessons, visits to museums and galleries, work experience with West Ham United Football Club, NHS, and construction companies
London East Alternative Provision is an outstanding pupil referral unit where dedicated staff create a nurturing culture that helps pupils settle quickly and develop positive relationships. The school's broad curriculum and high expectations result in excellent behaviour, strong achievement, and pupils feeling safe and emotionally secure.
At a Glance
49.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with London East Alternative Provision
Before and after school care
London East Alternative Provision is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Tower Hamlets
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to London East Alternative Provision from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. London East Alternative Provision is in Tower Hamlets; for families living there:
Apply to Tower Hamlets for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 244
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 40
- Children hurt
- 8
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 244 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 40 serious and 203 slight.
8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
50 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Tower Hamlets is 231 (the median across 115 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Tower Hamlets council
Places available
3,059
Applications
2,716
Got 1st preference
79.1%
Got preferred school
96.6%
All secondary applications across Tower Hamlets council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
32
SEN Support
22
EHC Plans
53.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
101
Total Pupils
60
Boys
41
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
40
Teachers
2.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£59,328
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
London East Alternative Provision
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about London East Alternative Provision
What is London East Alternative Provision's Ofsted rating?
London East Alternative Provision was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024. At its previous graded inspection in 2014 it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for London East Alternative Provision?
No fixed boundary. When London East Alternative Provision is oversubscribed, Tower Hamlets allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to London East Alternative Provision?
London East Alternative Provision has around 101 pupils on roll. 50% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to London East Alternative Provision?
Apply through Tower Hamlets's coordinated admissions process, naming London East Alternative Provision on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does London East Alternative Provision have a breakfast club or after-school club?
London East Alternative Provision is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near London East Alternative Provision?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 244 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 40 serious and 203 slight. 8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 50 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Tower Hamlets is 231 (the median across 115 schools, same distance and years).
Where is London East Alternative Provision?
London East Alternative Provision is at 21 Tollet Street, Stepney, London, E1 4EE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)