The Government has placed local pupil referral units (PRUs), which often deal with disaffected pupils, in "special measures" (The Argus, March 21).

While it is true that these units are expensive to set up and run, the real failures are the schools which "supply" their pupils.

The head teacher at Angmering School was recently reported as saying pupils had been punished by suspension/exclusion.

Can anyone explain how giving what is effectively a holiday to children who are disaffected with school life can be considered punishment?

My friend's son was excluded from mainstream education some time ago and now attends a PRU. He is making excellent progress and for the first time in many months goes to school with something of a spring in his step. He receives good reports and is slowly regaining his self-worth.

All of this could have been achieved within mainstream education.

There can be only one good reason for a school to suspend or exclude a pupil and that is when the child and/or parents refuse to accept other disciplinary measures.

These could include cleaning, litter picking, detention (even during weekends) and so on. Headteachers and staff should spend less time whingeing about lack of sanctions and concentrate more on their responsibilities towards those pupils who do not readily conform to what is required of them.

Every parent knows that discipline can seldom be achieved without some form of inconvenience to themselves.

Perhaps Ofsted inspectors would do well to remind heads of mainstream establishments of this before criticising the PRUs which are given the task of picking up the pieces.

  • Rob Hall, St Mary's Close, Littlehampton