Request for support

All commissioned placements at Essex Pupil Referral Units are overseen by The Education Access Team.

Essex Secondary Schools can complete a 'Request for Support' as a non-punitive approach for pupils whose needs and circumstances have made them more vulnerable in their education setting.

Schools will have already identified pupils that require a graduated approach by providing intervention/support and involving wider services. A coordinated approach is required to provide a suitable education, in some cases, intervention from an Essex Pupil Referral Unit may be appropriate to consider.

Typical pupils may not be accessing full-time provision due to social and emotional factors, and/or struggle to learn in their current environment. A Request for Support in partnership with an Essex PRU may be able to offer the following support:

• advice and guidance from panel members which may consist of
  • current Headteachers/Deputy Headteachers
  • Education Access Specialists
  • PRU leaders,
  • Inclusion Partners
  • Health and Social Care professionals
• specific interventions, including Outreach and small group work if available
• a short-term placement at an Essex PRU with an agreed return date to an existing mainstream school, subject to available places

A Request for Support is not:

• an alternative to a permanent exclusion
• a process that leads to a change of roll status permanently
• lead to a managed move

The Essex PRU Passport (EPP)

The Essex PRU Passport (EPP) provides additional information on the work that has been completed via the initial Request for Support form. This document will become a record of a secondary pupil's educational journey during their time in alternative provision at an Essex-based Pupil Referral Unit.

The EPP should be completed for pupils attending an Essex PRU via a Request for Support (RFS) or Permanent Exclusion (PEX).

The Essex Pupil Referral Units support the four quadrants of Essex:

• North-East - North-East Essex Cooperative Academy (NEECA), Keys Cooperative Academy Trust
• Mid Essex Co-operative Academy (MECA), Keys Cooperative Academy Trust
• South – Children's Support Services, (CSS South)
• West - Moundwood Academy, (Beckmead Trust)

Complete a Request for Support

Complete the Request for Support online form.

Ensure you click register in the top right-hand corner.

Alternatively, you can download the Request for Support​​ document (Word, 88.5KB) and email rfs@essex.gov.uk

For further guidance view the online document about The Essex PRU Passport and complete the Request for Support documents.

From September 2023, in response to the views of schools, the request for support form has been shortened.