Management Information Sheet
Changes to the charging arrangements for services provided by Pupil Referral Units
FROM: Helen Carmichael, Attendance and Behaviour Manager, Children's Services.
In December 2005, it was agreed at Schools Forum, that a different charging system would come into effect from April 2006. This was subsequently confirmed at Review Panel in January. It was accepted that additional income is required for the PRU/Behaviour Support Service, to improve the support given to schools and to individual pupils, particularly those who are permanently excluded.
In order for all schools to be clear about both the services available and the charges involved, this document has been devised. It will describe the types of support available from the PRU/Behaviour Support Service and the charges involved in the differing circumstances.
Existing position until 31.03.06
Until now schools have been required to transfer to the PRU the remainder of that academic year's AWPA for all permanently excluded and Managed Move pupils. For Managed Move pupils this has obviously only applied if the pupil transfers to the roll of the PRU, either for a period of time before moving onto a "second start" school or permanently in the case of some Key Stage 4 pupils. In all cases of permanent exclusion or managed move, the pupil leaves the roll of the original school and therefore it is clear that the AWPA should be transferred.
No charge has been made for sick children, School Refusers, Maternity cases, or those for whom the PRU provides preventive sessional placements. In each of these situations the pupil remains on the school roll and the AWPA funding remains with the school.
In effect, the support provided to the groups of pupils for whom no charges have been made to date, has been subsidised from the core funding and AWPA charges made for permanently excluded and managed move pupils. Core funding needs to cover both the significant additional costs for permanently excluded and Managed Move pupils and behaviour support to schools. There is close performance monitoring of the provision on offer for all permanently excluded pupils and the performance to date has not met the requirements of government guidance. Therefore it is necessary to introduce charges for the other groups of pupils whose funding stays with schools. There will be no charges for behaviour support into schools.
New Arrangements from April 2006
The details of the types of support available for specific groups of pupils and the associated charges are attached. This includes a description of how attendance can then be recorded by the school.
It was agreed that the new charging system should build in a disincentive for pupils to be allowed to "drop out" of school and an incentive for pupils to be returned to school as quickly as possible.
Therefore for Sick, School Refusers, Maternity Cases, the charge to schools will be 2.5 times AWPA for the duration of the time that the PRU takes on sole but temporary responsibility.
For those offered temporary preventive sessional support and for those cases of School Refusers or Maternity Cases, where the school and PRU share responsibility, the charge to schools will be 2.5 times AWPA for the part of the week that the PRU is taking on temporary responsibility.
In addition, when a permanent exclusion or managed move pupil is being reintegrated into school, the pro-rata proportion of the AWPA will be provided to the school, from as soon as the pupil starts to attend the school. This is a new arrangement: previously the funding did not transfer until the pupil was full-time on the school's roll.
These new arrangements should not lead to an increase in Permanent Exclusions or Managed Moves. There are strict criteria as to when these procedures can apply and they do not apply to pupils who are sick, school refusing or are maternity cases. There is now to be a charge for preventive sessional support, which is designed to support those who are socially excluded or those in danger of deterioration leading to exclusion from school. At the discussions at Schools Forum, many school representatives welcomed such support and felt that it was appropriate to charge for this service. The general feeling was that schools will still avail themselves of such support, in rather than immediate moves to exclusion. Such support obviously needs to be discussed with School Support Team colleagues and PRUs will make every effort to make as much of this kind of support available as is possible.
Permanent Exclusions and Managed Moves:
For Permanent Exclusions the PRU takes on full responsibility for the organising of the pupil's educational provision package, including commissioning other alternative providers, such as colleges and work placement providers. This also applies in the case of Managed Moves to the PRU at key stage 4. In other managed move cases, the PRU is often able to provide a period of support to improve the pupil's ability to function in a school setting, so that the planned managed move is more likely to be successful.
Pupils subject to Permanent Exclusion, Managed Move to PRU (KS4), or Managed Move to Schools (via PRU), will transfer from school roll and, therefore, a transfer of AWPA will be automatically generated either to PRU from day 16. (Where a pupil transfers directly to a new school, the AWPA transfers directly to that school.) This is the same as the existing situation.
Schools will receive the pro-rata proportion of the AWPA as soon as an inclusion placement commences in school, building to full amount when the pupil transfers totally. This is new and is designed to support reintegration. Schools will record "receiving education elsewhere" for the periods of the week when the PRU remains responsible.
Sick Pupils
Point of provision will be effective from 21 days (sick pupils) or 6 days (pupils in hospital).
Full 2.5 x AWPA will transfer immediately on pupil's return to school.
School Refusers
All partners will actively work together to establish the pupil's return to school as quickly as possible. If the pupil then receives support in both settings for a period, the 2.5 x AWPA will then only be charged for the period of the week, when the PRU is providing support. As soon as the pupil is fully the responsibility of the school, all charges will cease.
Schools will record "receiving education elsewhere" for the periods of the week when the PRU remains responsible.
Maternity Cases
School build the planning process with SST support if required. Where necessary, a Partnership agreement can be set up with the PRU.
This could include:
Schools will record "receiving education elsewhere" for the periods of the week when the PRU remains responsible.
If full temporary responsibility is taken on by the PRU, this will involve the transfer of full 2.5 x AWPA for the duration of this support.
School then records "receiving education elsewhere" for the whole week; PRUs record hours provided.
Sessional Support
This could be offered where SST acknowledge that a pupil is vulnerable to social exclusion or where school and SST agree that support is required to prevent deterioration, leading to possible exclusion from school.
Schools will record "receiving education elsewhere" for the periods of the week when the PRU is responsible for the pupil.
Newcomers
Traveller Pupils
LAC
For pupils on a school roll, the above arrangements will all apply.
Where pupils are not yet placed, discussions continue within Children's Services about possible local resolution of charging mechanisms in such cases.
THE RANGE OF SERVICES AVAILABLE TO SCHOOLS FROM PUPIL REFERRAL UNITS AND THE CHARGES INVOLVED FOR SPECIFIC GROUPS OF PUPILS
Introduction:In December 2005, it was agreed at Schools Forum, that a different charging system would come into effect from April 2006. This was subsequently confirmed at Review Panel in January. It was accepted that additional income is required for the PRU/Behaviour Support Service, to improve the support given to schools and to individual pupils, particularly those who are permanently excluded.
In order for all schools to be clear about both the services available and the charges involved, this document has been devised. It will describe the types of support available from the PRU/Behaviour Support Service and the charges involved in the differing circumstances.
Existing position until 31.03.06
Until now schools have been required to transfer to the PRU the remainder of that academic year's AWPA for all permanently excluded and Managed Move pupils. For Managed Move pupils this has obviously only applied if the pupil transfers to the roll of the PRU, either for a period of time before moving onto a "second start" school or permanently in the case of some Key Stage 4 pupils. In all cases of permanent exclusion or managed move, the pupil leaves the roll of the original school and therefore it is clear that the AWPA should be transferred.
No charge has been made for sick children, School Refusers, Maternity cases, or those for whom the PRU provides preventive sessional placements. In each of these situations the pupil remains on the school roll and the AWPA funding remains with the school.
In effect, the support provided to the groups of pupils for whom no charges have been made to date, has been subsidised from the core funding and AWPA charges made for permanently excluded and managed move pupils. Core funding needs to cover both the significant additional costs for permanently excluded and Managed Move pupils and behaviour support to schools. There is close performance monitoring of the provision on offer for all permanently excluded pupils and the performance to date has not met the requirements of government guidance. Therefore it is necessary to introduce charges for the other groups of pupils whose funding stays with schools. There will be no charges for behaviour support into schools.
New Arrangements from April 2006
The details of the types of support available for specific groups of pupils and the associated charges are attached. This includes a description of how attendance can then be recorded by the school.
It was agreed that the new charging system should build in a disincentive for pupils to be allowed to "drop out" of school and an incentive for pupils to be returned to school as quickly as possible.
Therefore for Sick, School Refusers, Maternity Cases, the charge to schools will be 2.5 times AWPA for the duration of the time that the PRU takes on sole but temporary responsibility.
For those offered temporary preventive sessional support and for those cases of School Refusers or Maternity Cases, where the school and PRU share responsibility, the charge to schools will be 2.5 times AWPA for the part of the week that the PRU is taking on temporary responsibility.
In addition, when a permanent exclusion or managed move pupil is being reintegrated into school, the pro-rata proportion of the AWPA will be provided to the school, from as soon as the pupil starts to attend the school. This is a new arrangement: previously the funding did not transfer until the pupil was full-time on the school's roll.
These new arrangements should not lead to an increase in Permanent Exclusions or Managed Moves. There are strict criteria as to when these procedures can apply and they do not apply to pupils who are sick, school refusing or are maternity cases. There is now to be a charge for preventive sessional support, which is designed to support those who are socially excluded or those in danger of deterioration leading to exclusion from school. At the discussions at Schools Forum, many school representatives welcomed such support and felt that it was appropriate to charge for this service. The general feeling was that schools will still avail themselves of such support, in rather than immediate moves to exclusion. Such support obviously needs to be discussed with School Support Team colleagues and PRUs will make every effort to make as much of this kind of support available as is possible.
Guidelines for provision of education other than at school with effect from April 2006.
AIMS- to develop incentives for successful reintegration;
- to ensure that funding follows each pupil;
- to improve school attendance figures;
- to reduce the amount of time each young person is receiving alternative provision.
For Permanent Exclusions the PRU takes on full responsibility for the organising of the pupil's educational provision package, including commissioning other alternative providers, such as colleges and work placement providers. This also applies in the case of Managed Moves to the PRU at key stage 4. In other managed move cases, the PRU is often able to provide a period of support to improve the pupil's ability to function in a school setting, so that the planned managed move is more likely to be successful.
Pupils subject to Permanent Exclusion, Managed Move to PRU (KS4), or Managed Move to Schools (via PRU), will transfer from school roll and, therefore, a transfer of AWPA will be automatically generated either to PRU from day 16. (Where a pupil transfers directly to a new school, the AWPA transfers directly to that school.) This is the same as the existing situation.
Schools will receive the pro-rata proportion of the AWPA as soon as an inclusion placement commences in school, building to full amount when the pupil transfers totally. This is new and is designed to support reintegration. Schools will record "receiving education elsewhere" for the periods of the week when the PRU remains responsible.
- At 15 days recorded absence (or 3 days for a pupil in hospital) school will inform PRU of the need for support.
- PRU to agree provision, set period of involvement, and establish review date according to circumstances.
Point of provision will be effective from 21 days (sick pupils) or 6 days (pupils in hospital).
Full 2.5 x AWPA will transfer immediately on pupil's return to school.
- School to take active measures to achieve attendance; this will include SST consultation and planning for a period up to 4 weeks (20 days).
- The School Attendance team will support school up to a maximum of 12 weeks (60 days). During this period the Attendance team will have discussion with PRU to decide appropriate options.
- PRU ( in partnership with Attendance team and school) agrees provision as appropriate, sets period of involvement and establishes review date according to circumstances.
All partners will actively work together to establish the pupil's return to school as quickly as possible. If the pupil then receives support in both settings for a period, the 2.5 x AWPA will then only be charged for the period of the week, when the PRU is providing support. As soon as the pupil is fully the responsibility of the school, all charges will cease.
Schools will record "receiving education elsewhere" for the periods of the week when the PRU remains responsible.
School build the planning process with SST support if required. Where necessary, a Partnership agreement can be set up with the PRU.
This could include:
- support into school (via SST - no charge)
- sessional support at PRU, plus school time;
- temporary responsibility of PRU (between 7 months and up to 12 weeks after the birth).
Schools will record "receiving education elsewhere" for the periods of the week when the PRU remains responsible.
If full temporary responsibility is taken on by the PRU, this will involve the transfer of full 2.5 x AWPA for the duration of this support.
School then records "receiving education elsewhere" for the whole week; PRUs record hours provided.
This could be offered where SST acknowledge that a pupil is vulnerable to social exclusion or where school and SST agree that support is required to prevent deterioration, leading to possible exclusion from school.
- School develops a partnership agreement with PRU.
Schools will record "receiving education elsewhere" for the periods of the week when the PRU is responsible for the pupil.
Traveller Pupils
LAC
For pupils on a school roll, the above arrangements will all apply.
Where pupils are not yet placed, discussions continue within Children's Services about possible local resolution of charging mechanisms in such cases.