Policy

At Chance UK we believe that every family should be able to access the right support, at the right time. Find out more about our positions on key issues and the changes we are trying to secure:

Primary School Exclusions

  • Every year 1,000 children aged 5-11 are permanently excluded from school, and a further 60,000 are suspended 

  • While exclusion rates fell, as expected, during the pandemic, we are now seeing the number of children excluded rising again  

  • Exclusion disproportionately affects children from particular ethnic backgrounds, children living in low-income families and children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND). 

  • The effects of exclusion are long-lasting and far reaching, including lower attendance and attainment at school, reduced wellbeing and self-esteem, and increased likelihood of becoming involved in, or a victim of, crime 

What we know:

  • Challenging behaviour is often a sign of unmet need, such as undiagnosed additional needs, experience of trauma or Adverse Childhood Experiences 

  • School exclusions do not tackle the underlying cause of these challenges 

  • Early identification and intervention are critical to understanding and supporting the unique challenges faced by each child
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We believe in a future where primary school exclusions are no longer necessary, because every child has the support they need to thrive

How we are making change happen:

  • We are calling on the government to recognise the importance of a trauma-informed approach and the value of early intervention in responding to behaviour 
  • We are calling on all schools to take a trauma-informed approach in responding to behavioural challenges and embed this through their school behavioural policy and staff training 
  • We are backing the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition’s call for a comprehensive 0-25 years Mental Health Investment Strategy to address the issue of chronic underfunding for this age group and to end the postcode lottery of available support  
  • We are calling for an increase in school funding – to enable every school to access expert and responsive support for pupils in need of extra help  

For more information:

For more information on our policy work, please contact us on admin@chanceuk.com