EXAMINER INVESTIGATION DISCOVERS VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN KIRKLEES ARE BEING EXCLUDED AND SUSPENDED
children.
In primary schools, children on free school meals were four times more likely to be excluded for a fixed term last year compared to children not on the scheme. None were expelled permanently.
While children in care of all ages are no more likely to be permanently excluded from Kirklees schools, they are five times more likely to be suspended.
Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive of the National Children’s Bureau, said: “The vast majority of disabled children, and those with special education needs, can and should be educated in mainstream schools.
“Yet the steep increase in exclusions comes as schools struggle to provide appropriate support for pupils that could enable them to retain their school place.
“This often means children with behavioural problems, mental health issues or special educational needs and disabilities may be placed in alternative provision that doesn’t work for them.”
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “The decision to exclude a student is never taken lightly and always as a last resort.
“This is an area where prevention is better than cure, but school budgets are at breaking point so many of the measures that schools take to ensure good behaviour and The steep increase in exclusions comes as schools struggle to provide appropriate support for pupils that could enable them to retain their school place. adequate support for pupils are under threat.
“Schools can’t do it on their own. To avoid exclusions, they need support from the other local services around them.”
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The ‘off-rolling’ of pupils is a perverse consequence of the current accountability system that makes some schools feel penalised for teaching pupils with additional needs.
“To best counter this, the government should change the accountability system so schools are given credit for working with children with complex needs.”