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Financial pressures “a strong incentive” to exclude pupils with SEND, MPs hear

Schools under financial pressure have a strong incentive to exclude or off-roll pupils with SEND, the Education Select Committee heard this week.

Ambitious about Autism’s policy and public affairs manager Justin Cooke told MPs “There is sadly a financial incentive for schools to off-roll or exclude SEN children, particularly when they reach the point of needing extra help that they don’t get via [an education, health and care] plan or SEN support, because they know that those children will then be the local authority’s responsibility.

“If they are placed in a special school, it comes out of the high needs block, whereas if they aided inclusion and kept them in school it would come out of their school block.”

He went on to say: “There is sadly a financial incentive for schools to off-roll or exclude SEN children, particularly when they reach the point of needing extra help that they don’t get via [an education, health and care] plan or SEN support, because they know that those children will then be the local authority’s responsibility.

“If they are placed in a special school, it comes out of the high needs block, whereas if they aided inclusion and kept them in school it would come out of their school block.”

Mr Cooke highlighted the financial pressures faced by “desperate” heads, as well as “extreme behaviour policies” some schools have adopted. He said: “I think it’s a desperation measure by some schools, but it is also an ethos for other schools who have, I would say, extreme behaviour policies which do not help inclusion, and they often get off-rolling and exclusion via that as well.”

The evidence session was part of the Committee’s inquiry into how SEND is funded, the challenges faced by schools and local authorities and the impact of reforms to funding for pupils with SEND.

In February Cathy Kirby, Ofsted’s Regional Director, sent letters to Secondary heads in some parts of the North East raising concerns about rising levels of exclusions. She said the intention was to shine a light on the issue and promote a dialogue.

Speaking at an Ofsted update event in Durham organised by Schools North East last month the Regional Director warned she would use inspection to hold schools to account where Ofsted has serious concerns about exclusions.

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