Rising school exclusions puts service under strain

The Sheffield Inclusion Centre is to stop taking on primary school children

The rising number of children permanently excluded from primary schools is placing a city's services under "unsustainable demand", according to a report.

According to a report written for Sheffield City Council's children, education and families policy committee, "radical change" is needed.

Councillors will discuss the issue affecting the Sheffield Inclusion Centre at a meeting on Tuesday.

The report said: "There is a growing recognition that a radical change is needed in how we address school exclusions to ensure all children belong, thrive and attain."

Sheffield Inclusion Centre, based in Spring Lane, Manor, works with children who have been permanently excluded and has eight sites across the city.

Under the new plan, the centre will stop taking on primary school children, freeing up spaces for secondary students.

Five Rivers Multi Academy Trust, a group of schools across Sheffield, launched a site offering short-term alternative education provision for primary school children at Abbeyfield School last year.

The number of places at Abbeyfield will increase from 10 to 20 over the course of the new academic year.

The Five Rivers trust is also developing a hub for six to eight pupils at Tinsley School and is partnering with the council to develop another hub for up to 15 children in the south of the city.

The report said: "These expansions will mean a total of up to 43 places for children will be provided across the city.

"It is hoped in time not all of these places will be needed for children excluded from school and that the service can also be used as an intervention for exclusion prevention purposes."

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