PRU legislation

Legislation about PRUs

Any school established and maintained by a local authority which:

a. is specially organised to provide education for such children (pupils of compulsory school age who are otherwise out of school and/or not gaining qualifications) and,

b. is not a county or special school

shall be known as a "pupil referral unit". (Section 19(2) and Schedule 1 of the Education Act 1996 is the primary legislation about Pupil Referral Units.)

PRUs are legally both a type of school and 'education otherwise than at school'.
PRUs small size, rapidly changing roll and the type of pupils they teach mean they are not subject to all the legislative requirements that apply to mainstream and special schools.

• A PRU must, however, have an SEN policy and appropriate Child Protection procedures and is required to fulfil other duties as to the health, safety and welfare of pupils as specified in guidance for other LA schools.
• PRUs do not have to assess pupils at the end of Key Stage, but assessment is clearly important. The PRU's annual report to the LA should report pupils' progress.
• PRUs should offer a balanced and broadly based curriculum which should include:

English, Maths, Sciences, PSHE and ICT
Promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and of society
Prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

• PRUs do not have to provide a head teacher's room, playing fields, staff accommodation for teachers to use for both work and social purposes.