Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce rates of exclusion and suspension in schools with high proportions of students with special educational needs.

The government is committed to ensuring that all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), can thrive in mainstream education. High standards of behaviour are essential for creating calm, safe and supportive classrooms, and all pupils should be supported to meet those expectations.

That is why we are delivering a comprehensive programme of behaviour and attendance support, including our Attendance and Behaviour Hubs, which will work with schools to help build strong, inclusive school cultures and spread effective practice across the system.

We are also reforming the SEND system to ensure children and young people receive the right support at the earliest opportunity, helping to prevent needs from escalating and supporting more pupils to remain engaged in education. This is backed by an additional £4 billion investment over three years, including funding for specialist expertise in communities, earlier intervention in schools, and workforce training.

Alongside this, we remain committed to reforming the school exclusion system. We will consult on measures including an internal suspension framework, the introduction of Reintegration Support Partnerships, and a requirement for schools to provide schoolwork during the first five days of an exclusion.