Education Act 1996

[F1 19A Exceptional provision of education in pupil referral units or elsewhere: Wales E+W

(1) Each local authority in Wales must make arrangements for the provision of suitable education at school or otherwise than at school for children within the authority's area who—

(a) are of compulsory school age, and

(b) by reason of illness, exclusion from school or otherwise, may not receive suitable education for a period unless such arrangements are made for them.

(2) A school established (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) and maintained by a local authority in Wales which—

(a) is specially organised to provide education for children falling within subsection (1), and

(b) is not a special school,

is to be known as a “pupil referral unit”.

(3) A local authority in Wales may secure the provision of boarding accommodation at any pupil referral unit.

(4) A local authority in Wales may make arrangements for the provision of suitable education otherwise than at a school for young persons within the authority's area who, by reason of illness, exclusion from school or otherwise, may not receive a suitable education for a period unless such arrangements are made for them.

(5) In this section, “suitable education”, in relation to a child or young person means efficient education suitable to [F2 the child’s or] the young person's age, ability and aptitude and to any additional learning needs the child or young person may have.

(6) The following persons are to be treated as pupils for the purposes of this Act—

(a) any child for whom education is provided otherwise than at school under this section, and

(b) any young person for whom full-time education is provided otherwise than at school under this section.

(7) Schedule 1 has effect in relation to pupil referral units maintained by local authorities in Wales.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 19A inserted (30.4.2021) by Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 4), s. 84(1), Sch. 2 para. 4 (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2022/111, regs. 1, 3)

F2 Words in s. 19A(5) inserted (1.9.2022 for specified purposes, 1.9.2023 for specified purposes, 1.9.2024 for specified purposes) by The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (Consequential Amendments) (Primary Legislation) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/744), reg. 1(3), Sch. 2 para. 2(3)