Research finds children with SEND disproportionately excluded from primary school

Chance UK has released research highlighting that children with special needs or from poorer backgrounds are disproportionately affected by exclusion and suspension.

The study found that  97% of pupils excluded or suspended from primary schools were classed as having SEND.

91% failed to pass their English and Maths GCSEs and almost two thirds of excluded primary school children were persistently absent by the time they reached Year 10.

Chance UK Chief Executive, Vanessa Longley said: “When we have children as young as five being excluded from primary school then clearly something isn’t working. For the first time we can see the incredibly devastating impact that a primary school exclusion or suspension has on a child’s life and their school careers. We can’t wait until they reach secondary school to tackle this problem, we must get in early to support children who are struggling and who often have unmet social, emotional and mental health needs.”