A local education authority may make arrangements for the provision of primary and secondary education for pupils at schools not maintained by them or another local education authority.
(1)Each local education authority shall make arrangements for the provision of suitable full-time or part-time education at school or otherwise than at school for those children of compulsory school age who, by reason of illness, exclusion from school or otherwise, may not for any period receive suitable education unless such arrangements are made for them.
(2)Any school established (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) and maintained by a local education authority which—
(a)is specially organised to provide education for such children, and
(b)is not a county school or a special school,
shall be known as a “pupil referral unit”.
(3)A local education authority may secure the provision of boarding accommodation at any pupil referral unit.
(4)A local education authority may make arrangements for the provision of suitable full-time or part-time education otherwise than at school for those young persons who, by reason of illness, exclusion from school or otherwise, may not for any period receive suitable education unless such arrangements are made for them.
(5)Any child for whom education is provided otherwise than at school in pursuance of this section, and any young person for whom full-time education is so provided in pursuance of this section, shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as a pupil.
(6)In this section “suitable education”, in relation to a child or young person, means efficient education suitable to his age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs he may have.
(7)Schedule 1 has effect in relation to pupil referral units.