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A message from Patrick Leeson:

21 September 2016 weekly update

21 September 2016

This week, Patrick provides a summary of the GCSE results achieved by pupils attending PRUs and the latest exclusion data.

Exclusions and PRU Results

The latest exclusion data for Kent indicates that the number of exclusions reduced significantly in the 2015/16 academic year. Countywide, the number of permanent exclusions has been significantly reduced from 105 to 67 compared to the same period last year, with 759 fewer fixed-term exclusion, reducing from 10,723 to 9,964. This reflects good practice in many schools, supported by LA services, in identifying and providing appropriate help for vulnerable pupils with challenging behaviour and other learning needs.

In order to disseminate the good practice and effective processes that have been adopted by many schools in Kent, we have produced the first Kent Exclusion Guidance for Schools and Governors. The document summarises the statutory requirements while promoting effective and preventative approaches that Kent schools and LA services have developed in the past year. You will see that the procedural sections reflect many good practices and new ways of working, which the PRU, Inclusion and Attendance Service (PIAS) has worked with schools to develop.

The work of the Pupil Referral Units and other Alternative Provision has also played a key role in working with schools to identify alternatives to exclusions, providing appropriate support for children with challenging behaviours. There are now six PRUs, and two alternative provision arrangements managed by groups of schools in two areas of Kent, plus the Kent Health Needs Education Service, which has six satellite provisions around the county. In addition we have invested in developing Primary projects to provide support for pupils with challenging behaviour in Primary schools. The quality of this provision is now mostly good, with 86% of PRUs rated good or better by Ofsted and 95% of pupils attending a PRU in provision that is good.

In the 2016 GCSE results nearly all pupils (96%) attending PRUs achieved at least one qualification and 68% achieved five or more GCSE passes. 79% achieved a GCSE pass in English and 70% in maths. 65% achieved the expected rate of progress in English and maths. At the time of writing 74% of these pupils are now continuing in some form of education and training post 16. While there is room for further improvement these results are significantly better than the outcomes achieved for these learners in previous years.

There has been very good work in the PRUs and across schools to improve provision and outcomes for these vulnerable learners. A very small number of schools now resort to permanent exclusion and the numbers continue to reduce. This means that more young people have a better chance of being helped and they can remain in the education system.

If we continue on this trajectory we will see even better outcomes. I would ask that we make maximum use of Early Help, the SEND LIFT process and the available High Needs funding, in addition to the work of the PRUs, to continue to make sure every child and young person in Kent is supported to participate fully in education and to achieve well.

The Exclusion Guidance and the information on prevention strategies are available on Kelsi here.

For more information please contact Ming.Zhang@kent.gov.uk, Head of the Attendance and Inclusion Service; and Celia.Buxton@kent.gov.uk, Executive Headteacher and Strategic Lead PRUs.

Patrick Leeson, Corporate Director Education and Young People’s Services