Coventry charity calls for earlier intervention for excluded students
A report by Chance UK found most pupils who are excluded from primary school has a special educational need or disability.
A charity in Coventry thinks more funding is needed to provide specialist provisions and early intervention in schools to support vulnerable children.
It comes after a report by Chance UK revealed almost every pupil excluded from primary school has a special educational need or disability.
The research suggests over 9 in 10 suspended children do not go on to pass their English and Maths GCSEs in secondary school.
Chance UK says youngsters as young as five are affected.
Adam Hives is the Executive Director at Life Path Trust – a charity based in Coventry that supports those with learning disabilities and autism.
He thinks the problem stems from a lack of funding and support for school.
Mr Hives said: “The report confirms what a lot of people have suspected for a long time. Unfortunately, it doesn't come as a surprise to most professionals that exclusion, especially at a primary school age, doesn't help pupils long term.
“The young people that are excluded, it's often those that are at risk of domestic violence, have special educational needs, and have very disruptive family and home lives. Consequently, without the right preventative intervention at an early age, young people won't get the services they need to pull through that.”
He explained: “We need services and schools to find out early what's wrong with young people, really tackle the root cause and root issues of what's happening in young people's lives.
“Very often, teachers find themselves without the necessary training to be able to intervene and to make the right decisions to help include people back into a classroom. They're let down by services and pathways that are meant to be supporting schools. And there's certainly a lack of funding and investment at that.
“To make things better we need to be targeting specialist training for educational professionals as well is going to be important. When a child is at risk of being excluded, create a plan that is bespoke and ensures that the pupil is not excluded long term. That's going to involve investment and money putting into schools, and especially the primary school system.”
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