Supporting learners in pupil referral units to return to mainstream school

Information about the school

Denbighshire portfolio PRU is an all age pupil referral unit for pupils experiencing social emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD), operating across three sites.   The main site at Ysgol Plas Cefndy houses foundation phase to key stage 4.  The Ruthin site houses the Stepping Stones provision for pupils in the primary phase.  This provides short-term and part-time placements.  An additional site in Rhyl houses the Milestones provision for a group of key stage 3 and 4 pupils who present with high levels of anxiety.

Around 80% of pupils are eligible for free school meals.  Fourteen per cent of pupils have statements of special educational needs (SEN) and all pupils are on the SEN register.  Pupils are predominantly from English speaking homes.

Context and background to the effective or innovative practice

Ysgol Plas Cefndy is one service encompassing the local authority PRU, alongside a county-wide outreach support team, providing support to schools from nursery to Year 11.  Having an outreach team, which can be called upon to work in the PRU at any time, is an integral part of the work done by the PRU and is at the heart of forming strong and effective links with mainstream schools, prior to, during and post-placement.  The PRU aims to return pupils to mainstream education or to further education, training or employment.

Description of nature of strategy or activity

Before a pupil is considered for a PRU placement there is an agreed graduated response, which schools follow to try to keep pupils in mainstream school.  The PRU supports this response through the outreach services it provides.  Members of the team work alongside schools, providing crisis intervention, group and 1:1 sessions, advice to staff and bespoke training.  The PRU also has an open door policy encouraging school-based staff to visit the PRU to observe best practice.

By the time a pupil is referred for placement, the PRU will already know them.  PRU staff will have an understanding of the pupil’s barriers to learning and will be able to tailor the curriculum to help them overcome these barriers and make a successful return to school, or college for those in Year 11.  Any staff who have worked with the pupils in their mainstream setting will be involved in discussions with the PRU staff to ensure that all relevant knowledge is shared.  This includes the development of ‘One Page Profiles’ throughout all classes.

Pupils in the primary department spend half-days in the PRU and half-days in school.  This approach is key to ensuring that pupils still have a sense of belonging to their mainstream school and this has been a significant factor in the success of the programme over many years.

Reintegration is carefully considered during ‘Pupil Centred Planning’ reviews, where specific aspects of the timetable are considered.  Post-placement, the team continues to support the pupil in a sensitive and agreed way, be it short term in the classroom, sessional support or just checking in with the pupil during the week.  The outreach staff will continue to be involved with pupils and support the schools for as long as necessary, and this often includes transition support for pupils as they move on to secondary school.

The skills needed for reintegrating back into mainstream are part of the curriculum that is followed.  For example, the skills that pupils need to function and flourish in mainstream school are carefully considered, through approaches such as growth mind set and mindfulness, moving-on approaches and therapeutic play sessions for all age groups. Throughout their time in the PRU, staff are always referencing the importance of being back in mainstream, which is always their ultimate aim.

What impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards?

The outreach team is at the heart of the PRU.  It provides flexibility and quick response when a pupil is in crisis and has become the most effective provision for pupils to make reintegration a success.  It also allows the PRU to make the best choice for individual pupils, when identifying which member of the team will continue to be their contact on return to mainstream.  Leaving the PRU is not the end; it is just part of a continuum of support that only stops when everyone agrees it is no longer required.

The PRU can also ensure that a strong link is maintained with the staff who have supported them, should their help ever be needed.

Over time, a very high percentage of the pupils from the PRU have returned to, and maintained their placements at mainstream schools.  This also means that more pupils can access the PRU and its bespoke curriculum, which gives pupils the skills and confidence that they need to make a successful return to school.

How have you shared your good practice?

The strong links with mainstream schools, who each have designated outreach teachers and support staff, help the PRU to share good practice with all of its schools.  This extends to sharing resources and upskilling school-based staff to use these in their own settings.  School-based staff are also encouraged to visit the PRU.

The PRU is part of the wider PRU network across North Wales where the sharing of good practice is at the heart of the agenda.

Staff from PRUs and Inclusion services across Wales are always welcome visitors, giving them an opportunity to see what is done, and for the PRU to gain new ideas that can be introduced in its setting.