The Department for Education’s figures show exclusions falling, with permanent exclusions dropping by 11.5% last year.
However, the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers fears a lack of a “structured approach to multi- agency working” will cause exclusion numbers to rise, especially for children with special educational needs (SEN).
Children with SEN are significantly more likely to be excluded than children without and this is one of the areas where a structured approach between the agencies is important.
The inclusion and Every Child Matters agendas were based on multi-agency working which may have contributed to the reduction in exclusions.
Reforms in SEN education and the public sector together with reduced funding makes it is difficult to predict how joined up support will be affected in the coming years, especially in relation to exclusions. Will these reforms have a positive impact on those children who most need support or simply lead to those with greatest need being provided with dis-jointed not joined up support.