The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Schools could face financial penalties in a bid to cut the number of children who are permanently excluded.
The “pupil reintegration charge” could be levied against schools in Lincolnshire if they are unable to demonstrate they took all possible measures to prevent a child’s exclusion.
The county has a poor record on permanent exclusions with the number growing – against the national trend.
Lincolnshire is now in the top five of 139 local education authorities for permanent exclusions and is in joint last place of 95 authorities for primary school exclusions.
A report which was presented to Lincolnshire School’s Forum yesterday, said the problem has serious financial implications for Lincolnshire County Council as the cost of dealing with children excluded from school must be met from the dedicated schools grant.
In the case of pupils who are unable to be reintegrated into a mainstream school and instead are taught at pupil referral units, it costs an average of £26,225.35 a year for a pupil in key stages one to three and £17,797.54 for a key stage four place.
If members of the forum agree, schools could be asked to pay around £25,000 per excluded child to cover these costs if they “do not engage with meeting the needs of pupils either through following good practice or accessing services available to them”.
The introduction of the charge is one of eight measures in a new Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy, which was drawn up by a working group of headteachers and local authority officers to offer support and guidance to schools.
A total of £1.3million a year has been set aside to implement it.
The most common reasons for exclusions in the county’s primary schools are persistent disruptive behaviour, physical assault against an adult and physical assault on a pupil.
In secondary schools, it is disruptive behaviour, drug/alcohol related reasons, other reasons and physical assault on a pupil.
Boys are four times more likely to be excluded than girls and most exclusions occur in Years 10 and 11.
