Pupil referral units (PRUs)

A pupil referral unit (PRU) is a type of school that offers short-term alternative education for children who are excluded from school, not attending school for other reasons or who are not gaining qualifications at school. There are 15 PRUs in Kent.

PRUs do not necessarily follow the National Curriculum.

Children who go to PRUs

Many of the children attending PRUs will have special educational needs and many of those will also have statements, usually for emotional and behavioural difficulties. They will often go into PRUs to help them cope with immediate problems they are having with their education, and may then be gradually introduced back into mainstream schools or into special schools.

Children who are being assessed for special educational needs may spend some time at a PRU to help the assessment process. Children who attend PRUs can be registered as on roll both at the PRU and at their normal school, and may attend 'part-time' at both.

You cannot ask for your child to go to a PRU. PRUs only take children who have been referred to them by Kent County Council, their current school or other professionals working with the child.