Pupil Referral Units
What is a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU)?
A Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) is an alternative provision to support children and young people who find going to their current mainstream school challenging due to range of complex reasons.
The PRUs work with primary and secondary aged pupils on the roll of Wandsworth Council maintained schools, who are not attending school or who are experiencing emotional, behavioural or social difficulties in school.
The Medical PRU works with pupils who are in-patient in either St George’s Hospital, Tooting, or Springfield University Hospital as well as providing home tuition for pupils with a medical condition which prevents them from attending school and pregnant teenagers.
Referrals can be made by schools, Pupil Services, Children Looked After Team and the Special Needs Assessment Service (SNAS).
PRUs do not accept applications from parents.
PRUs aim to be a place where children and young people are supported for a fixed period to prepare for reintegration back into learning at school.
There are three PRUs in Wandsworth:
- Victoria Drive PRU. This is a provision for children of primary school age with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMHD). Every pupil is dual registered, and this means that they attend both Victoria Drive PRU and their own mainstream school.
- Francis Barber PRU, which is split into two sites: West Dean and Franciscan Road. These are provisions for children and young people of secondary school age.
- Wandsworth Hospital and Home Tuition Service (WHHTS). This is a medical PRU, attached to Springfield hospital and St George’s hospital. WHHTS also offers outreach services.
Children of Primary School Age: Victoria Drive Pupil Referral Unit (PRU)
Ages 5 – 11 years old
Victoria Drive Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) aims to support pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMHD) to feel safe, remove barriers to their successful engagement with school life, develop effective socialisation strategies through building relationships, and to teach pupils how to emotionally regulate themselves.
Referrals to Victoria Drive PRU can only be made by mainstream schools in Wandsworth.
If a child who lives in Wandsworth is permanently excluded from their mainstream school, then Pupil Services will arrange for the child to be placed at Victoria Drive PRU.
However, if a child with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan who lives in Wandsworth is permanently excluded from a special school, the LA (Special Needs Assessment Service (SNAS)) may make other arrangements.
Please contact the Special Needs Assessment Service (SNAS) for further information.
For more information, please read the Victoria Drive PRU page.
Children of Secondary School Age: Francis Barber (PRU)
Ages 11 – 16 years old
Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) provides education for secondary-aged pupils who live in Wandsworth and are permanently excluded or who are not on a school roll for other reasons.
The PRU also works with secondary aged pupils on the roll of Wandsworth Council maintained schools, who are not attending school or who are experiencing emotional, behavioural or social difficulties in school.
Francis Barber has two sites – Franciscan Road (SW17) and West Dean (SW18) where young people can continue their education in a safe and supportive environment, get specialist help to look at behaviour, and get help to re-enter mainstream education.
Referrals to Francis Barber PRU can be made by Pupil Services and mainstream schools in Wandsworth.
However, if a child or young person with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan who lives in Wandsworth is permanently excluded from a special school, the LA (Special Needs Assessment Service (SNAS)) may make other arrangements.
Please contact the Special Needs Assessment Service (SNAS) for further information.
For more information, please read Francis Barber PRU page.
Hospital and Home Tuition Service (WHHTS): Medical (PRU)
Ages 5 – 18 years old
WHHTS provides teaching for children and young people with complex medical and/or mental health needs that prevent them from attending school full-time.
Referrals are not needed for hospital schools.
There are two hospital schools in Wandsworth:
St George’s Hospital school is for inpatients only and teaching takes place in a hospital classroom or by the child’s or young person’s bedside, if needed. This provision is for all children and young people and so all ages, abilities and profiles are included.
Springfield Hospital school is for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) inpatients only. This provision is for all children and young people and so all ages, abilities and profiles are included.
If a child or young person cannot attend their school because of complex medical or mental health conditions, their school can make a referral for WHHTS outreach services. For more information, please visit the Hospital and Home Tuition Service (WHHTS) page below.
For more information, please read WHHTS page.
