Section 3 - priority projects

Reducing exclusions from schools

Accountable Officer - Judith Johnson

Lead Officer - Ernie Lloyd

Project Management Board - Integrated Youth Support Service Board

Key Links - parenting, children with special needs

What’s the story?

The consequences for young people who are excluded can be dire, as this is the first step to further risks and problems. Schools have not always felt sufficiently supported to have the confidence to keep difficult pupils, and have sometimes used exclusion as a means of getting action in extreme cases. Those at risk of exclusion frequently have other problems in their lives and there has been a
high proportion of exclusions for young people in care, or with Statements of Special Education Needs.

In 2006-2007 permanent secondary exclusions rose to 133 with the highest proportion in key stage 3 (age 11-14). Some schools, not always those in areas with high levels of deprivation, exclude proportionately more than others.

Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) are one way of providing flexible support. Capacity in PRUs has been increased but in comparison with other local authorities we have fewer PRU places.

Challenging behaviour creates considerable strain and we know that we need a number of ways to address this. We need to reduce exclusions and to manage some of the teenagers who end up ‘lost’ in our systems more effectively, helping them to find a more positive track. This priority link to many sections of the CYPP, so we need a co-ordinated approach.