PRU's

[Diane]

Hi

 

I guess this is an update to my earlier thread topic title ' STUCK IN THE MUD'. Things have happened really fast with regard to my sons education. I am going with his outreach teacher to view A PRU on Thursday. I know a bit about them and thought they were more for children who were labelled EBD.

 

I have read glowing ofsted reports and newpaper reports about the PRU we are visiting but any helpful guidance from you all would be welcome.

 

Thank you in advance

 

Diane

 

[JsMum]

 

 

 

Its great your reading the ofsted and researching the unit, some PRUs are good placements but like you have pointed out, usually they are for children with ebd or exclusions, I personally would be worried they would misinturprit my sons behaviour, and not identify his needs correctly.

 

Some PRUs do some brillaint projects and many do activities and other fun things, but they are only really designed for short term and they should then be either moved back to mainstream or specialist provision.

 

Do understand also that 80 percent of PRU students have also SENs too, and many EBD kids could well be undiagnosed ASDs.

 

I think your doing the right thing to visit, and have a look around, but remember you can also look for more spersific schools too in ASDs.

 

Good Luck with the visit.

 

JsMum

 

[Diane]

Thanks for this JS.

 

I am so worried as PRU are to me the last chance for him to have an education. I need to calm my panic and try to rationalise what is going on.

[JsMum]

 

 

If it is as good as you say on ofsted and the good press in the media, Id at least go, you never know the pru might have had already a handful of children with Autism this week alone, like you say, its the childs last chance, even for a kid with ebd, my son has Emotional and Behavioural needs too, but most of those were because of inapropriate management, so it really depends on what experience the pru has in Autism especially higher functioning Autism, as this for me gets the least understanding and goes without further support, causing more emotional and behavioural problems because of other underlying causes been unmet.

 

I would still go, it may give you more of an idea too what it is and what it certainly isnt what your son needs, dont forget after the visit you dont have to say yes, and demand another choice of placement, I went to three different special schools before I was happy that the school I have now, is the right one for my sons needs, every child is different, even with sens.

 

JsMum

 

[Diane]

I will go on Thursday as I know I need to get more information.

 

I also know when my DS finds out heis going to hit the roof and be really angry and refuse to go. I know I will have the support of his outreach worker and his psychologist through all of this.

 

I am feeling a little scared and so want to make the right decision for him. Time and time again things have gone badly wrong over the last five years it has worn down my confidence when dealing with any school.

 

I am not sure I have enough emotional strength to see something like this through.

 

I wonder if for me it is F. E. A. R. = False Evidence appearing Real.

[Kazzen161]

The important thing to remember is that generally PRU's are only supposed to be a short term (about 6 weeks?) placement. Their remit is to work with the child to get them back into mainstream education. Sometimes they can help gather evidence that the child will never cope in mainstream, and help get another placement.

 

A lot of children with AS get on well at PRUs because of the high staff ratio, but that does not mean they can then cope with mainstream.

 

PRUs often only offer 2-5 mornings or afternoons a week - that is not a full time education. They may also not have the facilities to teach science, music, etc, especially at GCSE level.

 

Ask the PRU how long he could stay there, and what will happen if he does not make it back into mainstream.