One in eight PRUs were rated inadequate by Ofsted

Pupil referral units are meant to be short stay centres for those taught outside regular school because of behavioural and other problems.

But Ofsted found that placements seldom had end dates and that schools rarely offered places to units' pupils.

In 2005-6 Ofsted inspectors found one in eight PRUs were inadequate, but half were judged good or outstanding.

This latest report was based on return visits to 28 of those judged good or outstanding last year.

Too many pupil referral units are inadequate but they could offer a second chance to children Christine Gilbert Ofsted chief inspector

Although inspectors found a clear sense of purpose and good working relationships with local authorities in successful PRUs, Ofsted said many faced common problems.

These often affected their ability to provide children and young people with a good education.

"These include inadequate accommodation, pupils of different ages with diverse needs arriving in an unplanned way, limited numbers of specialist staff and difficulties in reintegrating pupils into mainstream schools," Ofsted said.

The success of the unit depended on its ability to overcome these challenges and the support it got from local authorities.

Inspectors said most of the PRUs they visited did not get enough information about the academic record of the pupils who came to them.

'Weak link'

This prevented them from establishing what educational level the pupils had reached.

Inspectors urged local authorities to ensure schools passed on appropriate information about pupils' attainment and their behavioural, emotional and social needs.

They also called on them to work more closely with units when it came to pupils' reintegration to mainstream education.

Inspectors said although councils encouraged PRUs to ensure pupils, especially the younger ones, were reintegrated, many found this difficult to achieve.

Schools simply did not readily offer places to PRU pupils, even when there were good partnerships between the units and local authorities.

From February, local authorities will be required to establish statutory management committees for their PRUs Kevin Brennan Children's minister

Chief inspector Christine Gilbert said: "Too many pupil referral units are inadequate but they could offer a second chance to children if they followed the example of the best units we have reported on today".

Children's minister Kevin Brennan said PRUs often had to deal with some of the most challenging and vulnerable young people.

The report showed there was good work happening across the country, but this should be the case everywhere, he said.

"That is why, from February, local authorities will be required to establish statutory management committees for their PRUs.

"These committees will be made up of representatives of key stakeholders, including local schools, and be responsible for ensuring that the needs of all pupils are appropriately met."

Shadow Schools Minister Nick Gibb said it needed to be made easier for head teachers to exclude disruptive pupils, but that meant ensuring they were given proper support when excluded.

"This report makes it clear that PRUs are the weak link in the system and more needs to be done to raise the quality and the specialism of education for children with behavioural difficulties," he added.

The general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, John Dunford, said schools struggled to cope with disruptive pupils.

"While many students will return to mainstream school ready to learn and behave, there are those that fall back into their old ways.

"The only way to ensure this doesn't happen is for schools and PRUs to establish close links and regular contact between staff."