Schools: Exclusion of Disabled Children

Lord Sterling of Plaistow Excerpts

Wednesday 11th July 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord Agnew of Oulton]

My Lords, it is important that schools take the appropriate steps to address the underlying causes of poor behaviour. In this Question, we are dealing with the propensity to violence of some children in schools. We have to have regard to 7 million pupils, 465,000 teachers and 265,000 teaching assistants, and we must take their interests into account as well.

[Lord Sterling of Plaistow (Con)]

My Lords, I certainly support what has been said, but I have had the pleasure of seeing that government at both ends are highly supportive of trying to improve the situation, and everybody in this House wants to help these youngsters. I see it through the eyes of my little grandson; I am learning all the time about it. It is all very well having records, but, as has already been said, when a school has headmasters and mistresses and staff who are trained, understand and know what a meltdown is all about, it makes so much difference to that child’s future. Could that whole system be accelerated?

[Lord Agnew of Oulton]

My Lords, we have done a great deal over the past five years to raise awareness of these issues in schools, and we will continue to do so.