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<p>Pupil Referral Units form part of the Alternative Provision (AP) education sector
and are maintained by local authorities. All local authorities have a duty under Section
19 of the Education Act 1996 to provide suitable education and sufficient places for
children of compulsory school age who cannot attend school. As at October 2019, there
are 209 Pupil Referral Units in England, along with 95 AP Academies and 47 AP Free
Schools, with a further 7 AP Free Schools planned to open over the next three years.</p><p>The
department is currently looking closely at what is needed to ensure the sector has
the capacity and capability to provide high quality education and support to all children
and young people in alternative provision.</p>
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