Schools’ attitudes to exclusion have been revealed in a new report from PACA.

The extent of over-exclusion of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has been documented in new school league tables based on data obtained in a Freedom of Information request. The report also draws on our database of case studies from families in Milton Keynes.

The report looks at the experience of 3 groups over a 5-year period: those without any SEND, those on “SEN Support” and those with an EHCP* (for whom schools receive extra financial support from the council). We looked at the rates of Fixed Term Exclusions (FTE), the length of FTE and the number of permanent exclusions. Pupils with SEND are vulnerable to being removed from familiar routines and settings, especially those with an EHCP.

Susan Akhtar, Chair of PACA MK, said, “Parents tell us they understand that ensuring safety in schools is paramount, but that meetings pupils’ needs would be more effective than punishing them. Our report shows that schools in MK take very different approaches to tackling this problem”.