Risk of school exclusion among adolescents receiving social care or special educational needs services: A whole-population administrative data cohort study

Abstract

Background: Exclusion from school is associated with health, well-being and social detriments and disproportionately affects vulnerable children. No study in England has examined the total cumulative risk of exclusion across secondary school among children with a history of children's social care (CSC) or special educational needs (SEN). Objective: To assess the risk of any secondary school exclusion among adolescents receiving CSC or SEN services compared with their peers. Methods: An administrative data cohort study comparing children in English state schools (n = 1,031,500) with no history of CSC or SEN provision with children who had received different levels of CSC and SEN in combination. Outcomes were proportions of students with any fixed-term or permanent exclusion in years 7 to 9 (age 11 to 14) and years 10 to 11 (age 14 to 16). Results: Overall, 13 % of children were excluded at least once across years 7 to 11. CSC exposure was associated with exclusion risk: 32 % of children in need (or formerly in need) and 40 % of current or former children looked after and those subject to child protection plans were excluded at least once across years 7 to 11, compared to 12 % of the non-exposed group. After adjusting for confounders, children with SEN history were more at risk of exclusion, regardless of CSC exposure category (except for exclusions among children looked after during years 10 to 11). Rates of exclusion varied significantly between local authorities. Conclusions: Large inequalities in school exclusion rates between CSC-exposed and unexposed children were observed, with even higher rates observed for children with SEN history. These inequalities undermine the right to education of these vulnerable groups of children.