Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children with SEND were excluded from school in each week since schools returned for the autumn term.

Schools and colleges should work with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families and carers so that they receive the education, therapeutic support or specialist support and reasonable adjustments that they need.

The department does not currently hold information related to school exclusions for SEND pupils for this period. This data is collected on a termly basis as part of the school census and released in the annual ‘Permanent and fixed period exclusions in England’ statistical releases.

As set out in the letter of 2 September to children and young people with SEND, their families and carers and those who work to support them, we know that it is critical that all pupils and students can once again benefit from a full-time on-site education 5 days a week.

The department is introducing intelligence gathering and monitoring processes to identify in real time any changes in the use of exclusions and other disciplinary measures. This includes discussions with stakeholders including Regional School Commissioners, Ofsted and local authorities.