SEN Magazine - JulyAugust 2019

Exclusions shake-up promises to tackle “off-rolling”

Exclusion should not mean children are removed from education

A clampdown on “off-rolling” of pupils and moves to make schools more accountable for pupils they exclude have been announced in response to an influential new review of school exclusions.

Conducted by former Children’s Minister Edward Timpson, it calls for new measures to ensure permanent exclusions are only used as a last resort. Mr Timpson says that under current arrangements there are “too many missed opportunities for children to remain in the education that best suits their needs”.

In 2016/17, 78 per cent of permanent exclusions were issued to children with SEN, those classified as in need or pupils eligible for free school meals. While 85 per cent of all mainstream schools did not expel any children in 2016/17, 0.2 per cent of schools expelled more than ten pupils that year.

The review highlights wide ranging differences in the ways schools and local authorities approach exclusions. It also said there is a “small minority” of schools “off rolling” – the practice of removing a pupil from the school register without a formal exclusion. In some cases, this can result in the child being removed from education altogether.

“No parent sends their child off to school believing they will end up being excluded but when this does happen we all need to be confident we have a well-functioning system that makes sure no child slips through the net. Exclusion from school should never mean exclusion from education”, says Mr Timpson.

The Government has agreed in principle to implement all 30 recommendations made in the review. The Department of Education (DoE) will launch a consultation later this year to determine the most effective ways of ensuring schools fulfil their responsibilities for permanently excluded pupils. This may include reforming the commissioning and funding of alternative provision arrangements.

“Exclusion should not be considered the end point for any child; it has to be the start of something new and positive – with alternative provision offering smaller class sizes and tailored support”, says Education Secretary Damian Hinds.

Mr Hinds points to “widespread good practice in support for students and in the use of exclusions” demonstrated in the review. However, he also identified the need to support those most at risk of exclusion and to take action before pupils are excluded.

Schools and local authorities will be tasked with working more closely together and intervening early to ensure effective support for pupils most at risk of exclusion.

The Government has promised to re-write guidance on managing behaviour and when exclusions should be used. Mr Hinds says this will “extend to the use of isolation units and support for those with SEND, to make sure they are used constructively”.

Anna Feuchtwang of the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) says the review has “shone an important light on the more shadowy practices in our education system.” She is calling for a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing in schools, clearer guidance on the roles of local authorities and schools in relation to vulnerable children, and a commitment to tackle wider issues that impact on school exclusions, such as funding and support for children’s care and SEN.

Children with autism are three times more likely to be excluded than those without SEN, according to government figures. This is exacerbated by illegal exclusions of pupils with autism brought about by off-rolling.

“We hear awful stories of children who spend months, even years, out of education and lose all faith in the system and themselves”, says Jane Harris of the National Autistic Society. Schools and councils must work together, she believes, to make sure staff understand the difficulties that children with autism face at school and the potential triggers for unexpected behaviour.

Jolanta Lasota of Ambitious about Autism says the review has “failed to tackle the widespread problem of unlawful exclusions”. Research by the charity found that 56 per cent of the families surveyed said their autistic child had been “unlawfully sent home or denied a full education”.