§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been allocated to Suffolk local education authority for the provision of pupil referral units in each of the last five years. [114550]
§ Mr. MilibandLocal education authorities (LEAs) have flexibility in the use of funding allocated for work on preventing and managing exclusions including support for Pupil Referral Units (PRUs). Provisional figures from the January census show that Suffolk LEA had eight PRUs which were catering for 237 pupils.
Suffolk LEA has not received capital funding specifically for PRUs in the last five years. The Department currently allocates most capital funding for schools and PRUs to LEAs by needs-related formulae, and it is for authorities to assess and prioritise the capital needs of their school and PRU buildings through their asset management planning process, in consultation with local schools. Individual LEAs will therefore hold information on how much capital investment is being directed towards the provision of PRUs.