Europe UK (Commonwealth Union) – Pupils attending state secondary schools in England face a significantly greater likelihood of being subjected to exclusion if they have a background involving social care or have utilized special educational needs (SEN) services, as indicated by a recent investigation conducted by researchers from the University College London (UCL).
The study, featured in the publication Child Abuse and Neglect, utilized de-identified data sourced from the National Population Database of the Department for Education. This database encompassed the entirety of students commencing state secondary education in the country during the September intakes of 2011 and 2012, encompassing roughly one million students.
The research team assessed the percentage of students who experienced exclusion, encompassing temporary suspensions or permanent expulsions, throughout their tenure in secondary school. This assessment was based on whether the students had previously received social care or special educational needs (SEN) services.
Social care services encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms aimed at aiding children requiring social assistance or protective intervention, including those necessitating child protection plans or placement in foster care.
Conversely, SEN services cater to children with supplementary learning requirements, including those grappling with autism, developmental challenges, or physical disabilities.
The researchers’ findings unveiled that among all children, 13% underwent at least one instance of exclusion during their time in secondary school.
Yet, for children connected to social care engagements, this proportion was considerably higher. A striking 33% of children with any form of social care history during years 4 to 6 encountered exclusion during their secondary school years.
Moreover, approximately 40% of children who were subjects of child protection plans or were under state care in Years 4 to 6 experienced at least one episode of exclusion throughout their secondary school journey.
When children were recipients of SEN services in addition to their previous backgrounds, their susceptibility to exclusion was amplified even further. To illustrate, 46% of children who had been placed under a child protection plan and had a history of SEN services encountered at least one instance of exclusion during their secondary school tenure.
