Exclusions still top concern for SEND families
3 mins read
Tuesday 4 August 2026
This advice applies in England only.
Latest Department for Education (DfE) data shows that permanent exclusions and suspensions in schools in England have decreased overall. However, there has been an increase in children being suspended or excluded from primary school.
Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) continue to have higher rates of suspension and permanent exclusion. Children with education health and care (EHC) plans remain three times more likely to be suspended or permanently excluded. Those on SEN support are four times more likely.
This reflects what Contact hears on our helpline, where we continue to receive calls from parents when disabled children are suspended or permanently excluded. This includes enquiries from parents of younger children, including reception and years one and two. We also hear from parent carers who feel under pressure to remove their child, find another school or are “advised” to keep a child at home for part of the day.
Exclusions must be legal and proportionate
Angie Fenn, Contact’s Head of Information and Advice, said:
“Schools must follow the law. Permanent exclusions must be for disciplinary reasons, be fair and proportionate. A decision to permanently exclude must be a last resort. Statutory guidance includes details on steps to take before making a decision to suspend or exclude a disabled child, such as increasing their SEN support or considering alternative disciplinary measures.
“We speak to parent carers who are concerned about what the exclusion means for their child’s education and future. Many tell us that their disabled child has not received the identified support they need, prior to the exclusion. Our helpline can advise on next steps and school and local authority duties.”
Contact’s website has lots of information for what to do if your child is at risk of suspension or exclusion or they are put on a part-time timetable against your wishes. Our expert parent advisers on our helpline are also on hand to talk through these issues.
DfE updates exclusion guidance
The DfE has published updated guidance on suspension and permanent exclusion for local authority-maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units. We welcome the focus on off-rolling and safeguarding in schools.
The update follows the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act receiving Royal Assent in April.
Changes to the guidance, which came into force from 26 July, relate to a setting’s legal right to direct pupils off-site to improve behaviour; how settings can manage moves to another school; and instructions around separating pupils for safeguarding reasons.
The guidance also expands the list of examples of “off-rolling”. This is where schools pressure parents to take their child off the school roll, either to home education or another setting.