Latest figures show that the number of primary aged pupils in PRUs has seen a sharp increase.
Latest figures show that the number of primary aged pupils in PRUs has seen a sharp increase. More children under the age of 11 are being educated in PRUs than ever before. PRUs often work with pupils with complex problems and offer a range of specialist teaching, support and mentoring. However they are seeing more younger children being admitted than ever before at one of the most vulnerable stages of their education.
Whilst a PRU is the best place for some pupils, these figures are reinforcing concerns regarding the number of pupil exclusions from mainstream schools. Permanent exclusions have increased again over the last few years and although not at an all-time high numbers are trending that way. Most of these excluded pupils will end up in PRUs or other forms of alternative provision leading to concerns about provision, numbers and general interventions for pupils.
The general concern in figures relating to exclusion has led to a report on school exclusions being commissioned. This is due to be released shortly and it will no doubt make for interesting reading.
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Laura.murphy@brownejacobson.com
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The Children’s Commissioner, Rachel De Souza, has recently published a report “Beyond the labels: a SEND system which works for every child, every time”, which she intends to sit alongside the DfE’s SEND Review (2019) and SEND Green Paper (2022) and which she hopes will put children’s voices at the heart of the government’s review of SEND system.
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