Our country will only succeed if all our children succeed. Yet our education system is becoming less and less inclusive of children who have more difficult lives.
Permanent exclusions are rising[1], more children with SEND than ever are in special schools[2] and pupil referral units[3], and an increasing number of parents are feeling forced into home education[4].
It is time for us to re-affirm the values of our education system. We need a clear, inclusive vision of education that values the progress of all children, that celebrates their talents, and that champions individuality and difference.
Our call to government:
- Set a timeframe for stabilising and then reducing the number of permanent exclusions; remove the incentives in the system to exclude children and young people.
- Give the wellbeing of children and young people equal weight to academic progress; ensure every setting puts the wellbeing and mental health of its children and young people at the heart of everything they do.
- Ensure age appropriate, inclusive relationships, sex and health education is available to all children and young people.
Read the full version of our Manifesto for a Better Childhood.
NOTES
[1] Department for Education, Permanent and fixed period exclusions in England 2017 to 2018 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/permanent-and-fixed-period-exclusions-in-england-2017-to-2018
[2] Department for Education, 2019, Schools, pupils and their characteristics:
January 2019
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
[3] Department for Education, 2019, Schools, pupils and their characteristics:
January 2019 – Accompanying Tables https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
[4] Association of Directors of Children’s Services, 2018, Summary Analysis of the ADCS Elective Home Education Survey 2018https://adcs.org.uk/assets/documentation/ADCS_EHE_survey_analysis_2018_F...