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08
Sept
Pupil referral units to be expanded after rise in primary school exclusions
North Yorkshire Council looks set to create more pupil referral unit places following an increase in the number of primary-aged children being excluded from schools.
The authority has proposed to create alternative provision for children at five bases in the region.
The move comes as council officials report a “significant rise” in the number of primary-aged exclusions.
A report due before the children and young persons meeting next week said since 2021/22 permanent exclusions of primary school children had increased from five children to 25 in 2024/25.
It said:
This is in line with regional and national trends but presents a large rural authority such as North Yorkshire with additional challenges in arranging education for relatively small numbers of children across a vast geographical area.
In the Harrogate area, the number of exclusions increased from one in both 2022/23 and 2023/24 to five in 2024/25.
The council has a statutory duty to provide alternative provision for children on the sixth day of their exclusion.
Council officials pointed out that the existing provision for pupils was implemented when “numbers were much smaller” and was only intended as a “short-term response to an emerging issue”.
Number of primary and secondary exclusions since 2018/19. Figures: North Yorkshire Council.
As a result, the authority has proposed to commission an education provider, such as a pupil referral unit, to offer a “small satellite primary pupil referral unit model” at a cost of £450,960.
The council would use its existing five centres, which currently support secondary school pupils, for younger children. One of them is at Springwell Harrogate on Grove Road.
Each centre would include six places.
The report added:
Where places are not filled by children permanently excluded, short term intervention and support packages could be offered to support schools and prevent exclusions.
The offer for children permanently excluded would provide full-time provision in a legally compliant way and ensure a suitable curriculum.
Senior councillors will discuss the proposal, including a consultation into the matter, at a meeting on September 9.
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