Educator perceptions of the complex needs of young people in Pupil Referral Units: An exploratory qualitative analysis.

Background: Alternative education provision such as Pupil Referral Units support young people who have been excluded from mainstream school settings and often from disadvantaged backgrounds. However, there is limited research to date exploring educators' perceptions of the complex needs of young people in PRUs, and the extent to which PRUs as currently configured can meet such needs.

Methods: Between March 2019 and October 2020 twenty-two participants holding various educational roles from five different Pupil Referral Units across London and Southeast England were interviewed.