Raising standards, improving lives

Challenging the Gap Conference

Preparing for a successful future

Christine Gilbert

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector

July 2010

Outstanding PRUs

‘Pupils make outstanding progress because extremely effective leadership has assured an excellent ethos for learning, teaching of the highest quality and an extremely well-thought-out curriculum matched precisely to pupils’ needs’

Dacorum Education Support Centre

Outstanding PRUs

‘The Service provides an excellent quality of education for vulnerable pupils. Pupils in various centres and hospital, or those who receive home tuition, are given excellent support so that, wherever possible, they can quickly return to their school.’

Tuition, Medical and Behaviour Support Service, Shropshire

Grade 1 2 3 4

2008/09 17 52 24 7

2009/10 19 40 29 12

September 09 – March 10

Overall Effectiveness %

Successful PRUs

High expectations

See no limitations, only opportunities

Successful PRUs: the curriculum

A personalised curriculum which is tailored for each pupil

A focus on literacy and numeracy

Continuity with the curriculum in the pupil’s mainstream school

Successful PRUs: achievement

Value meaningful achievements

Provide purpose and engagement

Enable accreditation and qualifications

Successful PRUs: teaching

High expectations

Detailed planning, which uses assessment effectively and ensures a good match to learners’ needs and progress

Effective use of teaching assistants

Interesting and relevant activities

Effective liaison with mainstream schools

Ineffective strategies for tackling low attendance and poor behaviour

Lack of understanding about the link between poor learning opportunities and poor behaviour

Safeguarding concerns

Signs of ineffectiveness

Short stay provision

Being ready for the next step includes emotional preparation

Successful PRUs: tutorial and pastoral

Is personalised and ongoing

Helps pupils to manage their lives

Requires staff commitment

Successful PRUs: transition planning

A process, not a single activity

An individualised programme - why is the pupil at the PRU?

Successful PRUs: links with parents

Support from parents in helping learners to meet their own targets

Support for parents at home

Successful PRUs: links with other agencies

The need to plan these links and support from before the student enters the PRU

Links are focussed on the next steps before the student leaves

Use links during the students time in the PRU

Successful PRUs: leadership and management

An ambitious and shared vision based on a belief that there is no limit to achievement and success

A focus on learning

Staff supported to innovate based on careful tracking and meticulous evaluation

An obsession with progress and effectiveness

Understand their strategic role and have evaluated the performance of the PRU

Provide support and challenge

Share successes

Successful management committees

Ambitions and shared vision

High expectations, no limitations

A personalised learning programme

A focus on learning, success and improvement

High quality provision

A recognition of the value of qualifications

Transition is thoroughly planned

Rigorous monitoring and evaluating

Key characteristics of success