PRU and tests in mainstream

[Cheshiresquirrelsss]

Anyone know how it usually works? My child has severe MH difficulties and is currently attending a PRU (y 9).

They are doing currently one day in their mainstream school. We are only in our 4th week at the PRU). This week, the mainstream school made DC sit through a number of tests alongside the rest of the class. However, as DC is spending 4 days in the PRU with a very toned down curriculum and they said they barely could answer any questions in the tests. Is this standard? It's only gonna get worse as the time goes on. We have had a few massive meltdowns over it and the fear of getting very bad scores (they already have a diagnosis of anxiety so this situation doesn't help). I couldn't get hold of school so not sure how it works. Anyone with first hand experience or knowledge?

I don't think there's going to be any "usually" to it. This sort of PRU/mainstream arrangement is going to be individual to the child, and every school has different arrangements for assessment, too.

It's not clear what the tests were. If they were tests on what the pupils have been learning, then it doesn't make that much sense for him to do them where he hasn't been following that curriculum. They might be some form of standardised or baseline testing, in which case it might make some sense for your child to do them so that they have an idea of his capability. Either way, your son needs to know that it was okay if he couldn't answer very much.

It's probably worth checking in with the school, to find out what the tests were, and to tell them that your son is anxious about them. They may be able to reassure him (and you) that he doesn't need to worry. If they're something that will happen regularly, then you can discuss what's best next time - maybe it can be organised so that he only does any that are on things he's covered. Probably this time they'd just not thought about him when they were scheduled.

Tests were on what the mainstream kids had been learning (my DC had missed almost all of those lessons).

I suppose the tests could be to assess where your child currently is up to and where the gaps are so they know how to best support them when they’re in the mainstream school

but they won't be back for several months and if a child isn't in school, they won't learn what the teacher teaches. nobody needs demoralising tests when it's obvious where there learning gaps are. Silly to assess something they haven't been taught. Will try to get to the bottom of it next week. Just wondered if someone had experience 🙂

The schools are responsible for the progress your child makes.

Assessment will help them to find out what your DC knows and doesn't.

The next steps are important in planning teaching and learning for your DC, so that the PRU and school to plan this together.

Oh ok, I thought they might have learned some of the things in the PRU

most of the subjects aren't taught in the the PRU. Just English, maths and some basic science. And the curriculum isn't in line with mainstream either. Most kids in there have been out of school for 1-2 years so the level of teaching is completely different. But most subjects aren't covered at all.

Is your child doing one day a week in mainstream doing subjects he misses out on in the week? Or is it just for the weekly lessons like art, drama etc? Just seems like it would be quite hard to go to mainstream one day a week for lessons like science and maths when you’ve missed all the other science and maths lessons that week. I would think that sounds quite stressful for him even without tests

It's going to be a difficult situation for the teacher, I guess. Having a child in their class occasionally, especially when the rest of the class is sitting a test.
I would perhaps approach the school with a possible solution, if there is a suitable one.