Children's Commissioner issues call for evidence

Dr Maggie Atkinson, Children’s Commissioner for England, today launched an inquiry into school exclusions. She issued a public call for evidence, and will examine questions related to the issue such as:

• What are the key reasons why some children are more likely than others in their peer groups to be excluded?
• How in your view should the inequalities seen in the figures for exclusions be addressed?
• How effective do you consider provision aimed at preventing permanent exclusions is, particularly where any such provision is actively targeted at groups most likely to be excluded?

The commission is particularly interested in hearing examples of good practice in the management of children at risk of exclusion, and in reducing the variations in exclusion rates between different groups.

Over a quarter (27%) of children with autism have been excluded from school at some point and most of these (23%) have been more than once. This compares to just 4% of other children. The NAS welcomes the Children’s Commissioner’s concern about these issues and hopes that the inquiry will be able to make practical recommendations which will reduce the levels of exclusions for children with autism.

Evidence is welcomed from adults or children, and can be submitted by emailing schoolexclusions.inquiry@childrenscommissioner.gsi.gov.uk by Wednesday 5^th October 2011. The adult version of the call for evidence can be downloaded here, and the children’s and young people’s version can be downloaded here