Pupil referral units (PRUs) will not become “short stay schools” this September as planned, after a policy change by the new Government. “Prus” were to be rebranded after teachers demanded action to rid them of their “sin bin” image.

The education centres for excluded children, or those at risk of being expelled, will remain pupil referral units for now. The Department for Education says ministers are still deciding whether to use “short stay schools”.

“The legislative provision which changed the name of pupil referral units to short stay schools was to be commenced on 1 September 2010,” said schools minister Nick Gibb.

“We have decided to delay commencement and plan to introduce provisions in Parliament in due course to repeal the name change.”

The National Association for Pupil Referral Units had already changed its name to the National Association for Short Stay Schools, and the organisation’s website had been redesigned. The name has been changed back.

Coalition ministers are due to announce major changes to provision for pupils who behave badly.