What extra provisions is the Cabinet Secretary putting in place to support pupils currently attending a pupil referral unit?
Funding for pupil referral units (PRUs) is provided to local authorities as part of their wider funding for education provision. In addition to this, there are several ways we support education other than at school (EOTAS).
As part of our whole school approach to wellbeing we are providing £350,000 in the current financial year specifically to support the wellbeing needs of children and young people attending PRUs or EOTAS. Local authorities have also received £897,000 for these children and young people via the Pupil Development Grant (PDG).
We fund Pupil Development Grant advisors across all regions to provide schools, PRUs and other education settings with the necessary support to use the grant in the most effective way and in line with the PDG guidance.
Our evidence suggests the greatest proportion of EOTAS PDG across all regions is invested in three key areas: high quality learning and teaching, adopting the Community Focused Schools approach and supporting the wellbeing and mental health of learners.
The majority of EOTAS pupils have an additional learning need (ALN) and we continue to work with local authorities and PRUs, to implement the ALN system to ensure EOTAS learners with ALN have their needs met and can achieve their full potential.