The Children's Society would like to see more co-operation between teachers, pupils and parents to try to avoid exclusions. It's particularly alarming that some children in extremely difficult circumstances are being penalised rather than being helped. Teachers have a tough job and they need more support to help children stay in school. We need to work together with teachers, pupils and parents to make sure children have their needs met. The organisation runs a number of projects in schools to promote inclusion and to prevent the problems which lead to pupils being expelled.
Exclusion is an admission of failure.
The research highlighted the sharp rise in the number of exclusions during the 90s. The government has pledged to cut the number of exclusions by a third by 2002. But teaching unions are fighting attempts to make it harder for schools to expel children, saying exclusions are often the only way of ensuring the safety of other children. One of the other complaints made by parents of excluded children is the lack of information available to them. It runs an information line, so parents can send off for details about government guidelines on exclusions and about what options are open to them.