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Pupil Referral unit

Donegal Diva

Guys,

My son is being given a place at a Pupil referral unit and I've got no choice but to take it.  I do however need to visit it this week and wondered if there were any questions I should ask about the unit.  Any watch outs and anything I should ensure is in place before he starts.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Catriona

  • Hi

    Thanks for the feedback.  My son is 9 and we are in the process of getting him a diagnosis. Until 6 months ago he was coping well in mainstream school and had no inkling of ASD (would not have know what it meant). 

    However his behaviour deteriorated in year 4.  He had a two teachers who job shared and one then left mid term to have another baby.  His anxiety levels escalted and his behaviour went downhill.  We need to get a statement in place and the PRU is the route to a statement.

    I've now visited and have been impressed.  It is small and they have experience in ASD.  Hence I' m hopeful now it will help. He starts on Monday so keep me in your prayers and wish me luck.

     

     

     

  • Hi,

    PRUs vary in provision and quality as much, or more than main stream schools. Some are excellent at providing a bespoke education for students on the autistic spectrum. Some are not. It will however be a much smaller environment with closer ties and links to parents and, hopefully, a very experienced and passionate staff. Ask the same questions as you would any other school. Is the provision full time in the school? What are the long term plans for your son? (will he stay here...get it in writing). Who will his teacher be? ....meet them and ask for them to be in at least one meeting before he starts. What are the routines? What is the rewards and sanctions policy? What is the curriculum? Can it be flexible to suit your sons needs. Only you know your son ... approach it with a positive attitude and be prepared to work closely with the school. If you want some advice contact ACE www.ace-ed.org.uk/

    Good Luck,

    Dee (previous Teacher in Charge of a PRU)

  • PRUs aren't just for excluded pupils  - they are for pupils who do not cope well with a mainstream environemnt - school phobics for example.

    However, I agree that there may be somewhere better suited to your son's needs, as they are not always calm places. The staff at our PRU re very good at de-escalation though.

    Can you speak to the parent parnership officer at the Local authority or the special needs department. How old is your son ?Does your son have a statement?

    Is there another mainstream school that would suit him better - either in your authority or a nearby one? Or a special needs school which he meets the criterai for.

    Don't just accept what they say you have to do without exploring your options. If you do go and visit  make sure you go when the pupils are in and make your own judgements.

    Hope you come up with the right solution for your son.

  • hi - on the assumption that your son is on the autistic spectrum, why is he being sent to a pru and why have you no choice in the matter......?  Haven't much knowledge at prus except that they're for pupils who have been excluded from mainstream school.  I wouldn't have thought it was the best place for someone with asd, to put it mildly.   I would be asking how knowledgeable/qualified all the staff are about autism, what are their plans for him whilst he is there to make his time enjoyable and worthwhile.  Policies around discipline, behaviour etc. But really, I don't understand why he's being sent there.  How do you feel about it?  Sounds really inappropriate to me.  bw