A new report reveals that children with special educational needs (SEN) are five times more likely to be permanently excluded from school compared to their peers without SEN. The analysis, conducted by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and The Difference, highlights a 20% rise in suspensions and exclusions in the 2023/24 academic year, leading to the loss of 32 million school days due to unauthorised absences and exclusions. Children from low-income families, those with SEN, and those facing mental health challenges are among the most affected.
The report also finds that children with severe mental health needs classified as SEN are 17 times more likely to be placed in alternative provision schools for excluded pupils. Since the pandemic, there has been a 56% rise in children moving from state-run to privately-run provision funded by the state, with annual costs per child reaching as high as £111,000 - double the cost of state settings.
IPPR research expressed concerns over the increasing number of vulnerable children missing out on education, calling for urgent reforms to address this "crisis of lost learning." The report estimates that each permanently excluded child incurs a lifetime cost of £170,000, with the most recent excluded cohort alone potentially costing the state £1.6 billion.
In response, the newly formed "Who’s Losing Learning Solutions Council" will gather evidence from experts between September 2024 and March 2025 to develop national policy solutions. The council aims to support mainstream schools in better addressing the needs of all children, particularly those struggling with mental health, and to improve inclusivity and support for SEN students.
