I visited the Milton Keynes Primary Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), and I’m still reflecting on everything I saw and heard.
The children here are some of the most vulnerable in our community, coming from backgrounds of trauma, broken homes, and domestic violence. But there are also those that come from stable homes but could be living with mental health or having behavioral challenges.
Hearing some of their stories was heartbreaking – these young souls have been through so much, far too much for their age, and now they are considered quite challenging and have been moved out of mainstream school and into this PRU.
But despite whatever their background is, and everything they have faced, there’s real change happening here.
The staff at MK Primary PRU are incredible. They refer to every child as “my child,” and you can feel the warmth and care in everything they do. They’ve created a safe space where these children can heal, rebuild, and thrive. It’s not just about teaching them academics — it’s about supporting them to become the best versions of themselves.
The work being done here is inspiring even with the SEND-PRU challenges which are huge. These children are being helped back to mainstream school, and you can see the positive difference the staff are making in their lives which in turn allows our young ones to improve their own abilities and grow in confidence. The success rate is 77%, and the fact that so few kids return to the PRU is a testament to the amazing work they do.
I always worry about our young people who get into trouble and wonder often whether there will be support, and what that support looks like and how quickly do they get that support. Our young people are our future. And here, they don’t give up on our children. I left with a mixture of emotions, sad, happy, inspired and mostly HOPE.
Being a councillor gives me a platform to fight for change, to stand up for those who need it most, and to bring attention to the causes that matter. It's a privilege that comes with great responsibility, and seeing the impact of places like this PRU reminds me why it's worth it. 
