Special Educational Needs: Essex

(asked on 20th February 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the change in the the number of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) permanently excluded from school in Essex in the last three years; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of pupils with SEND being permanently excluded.


Answered by
Nick Gibb Portrait
Nick Gibb
This question was answered on 1st March 2019

The number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) or disability permanently excluded from school is published by local authority within the local authority characteristics underlying data file at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/permanent-and-fixed-period-exclusions-in-england-2016-to-2017.

The Department’s statutory guidance on exclusions is clear that schools should take appropriate steps to address the underlying causes of poor behaviour, which could include pupils’ SEN or disability. This should include an assessment of whether appropriate provision is in place to support any SEN or disability that a pupil may have to avoid exclusion, and that schools should consider the use of a multi-agency assessment. The full guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-exclusion.

In March 2018, the Government launched an externally led review of exclusions practice, led by Edward Timpson CBE. The review is exploring how head teachers use exclusion, and why pupils with particular characteristics such as those with special educational needs are more likely to be excluded from school. It is also considering the differences in exclusion rates across primary and secondary schools in England.

​The review has gathered substantial evidence, including over 900 submissions to the call for evidence. Edward Timpson has also chaired a series of roundtables and the review has met with over 100 organisations and individuals, including schools, local authorities, parents and children. The review will report in due course.

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