This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/7682865.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
School exclusions remain problem School exclusions remain problem
(about 1 hour later)
The number of children being sent home from school unofficially is still not declining a year after officials said the practice needed to stop. The number of children being sent home from school in Wales unofficially is still not falling, a year after officials said it needed to stop.
A total of 48 unofficial exclusions were reported last year with 24 already reported in the first half of 2008. A total of 48 unofficial exclusions were reported last year, with 24 already in the first half of 2008.
Charity SNAP Cymru expressed concern that the figures have not improved a year after a children's commissioner report into the practice.Charity SNAP Cymru expressed concern that the figures have not improved a year after a children's commissioner report into the practice.
The commissioner's office said it was working on bringing the figures down.The commissioner's office said it was working on bringing the figures down.
Officially, schools should only keep pupils out of class if they have given them a fixed or permanent exclusion. Officially, schools should keep pupils out of class only if they have given them a fixed or permanent exclusion.
But some parents are asked to keep their children at home "unofficially", which is known as an unofficial exclusion.But some parents are asked to keep their children at home "unofficially", which is known as an unofficial exclusion.
However, when a child is unofficially excluded from school they often do not receive the education and the formal support which is their right and which could help solve their problems. To be excluded from school can mean a long-term social exclusion in life Denise Inger - SNAP CymruHowever, when a child is unofficially excluded from school they often do not receive the education and the formal support which is their right and which could help solve their problems. To be excluded from school can mean a long-term social exclusion in life Denise Inger - SNAP Cymru
BBC Wales found this year's figures from SNAP Cymru which frequently has cases of unofficial exclusion referred to it. SNAP Cymru frequently has cases of unofficial exclusion referred to it.
The number of cases the organisation receives offers an accurate indicator of how prevalent the practice of unofficial exclusion is across the country.The number of cases the organisation receives offers an accurate indicator of how prevalent the practice of unofficial exclusion is across the country.
This is because the real number of these kinds of exclusions is not known as local authorities often do not know when schools exclude a pupil unofficially. This is because the real number of these kinds of exclusions is not known, as local authorities often do not know when schools exclude a pupil unofficially.
SNAP's latest figures show there has been no appreciable change in unofficial exclusion numbers across Wales.SNAP's latest figures show there has been no appreciable change in unofficial exclusion numbers across Wales.
Chief executive director Denise Inger explained it can cause major problems for the children involved both at school and in their later life. Chief executive director Denise Inger said it could cause major problems for the children involved both at school and in their later life.
"Our case studies show unofficial exclusions will often lead to fixed-term exclusions and perhaps ultimately permanent exclusions at a later time," she said.Maria Battle said her office was working on solving the problem"Our case studies show unofficial exclusions will often lead to fixed-term exclusions and perhaps ultimately permanent exclusions at a later time," she said.Maria Battle said her office was working on solving the problem
"For a child to be excluded from school, unofficially or otherwise, gives the wrong message to that child, it says we have given up on you."For a child to be excluded from school, unofficially or otherwise, gives the wrong message to that child, it says we have given up on you.
"It lowers the self-esteem and does not help the child in any part of their development.""It lowers the self-esteem and does not help the child in any part of their development."
Education inspectors Estyn, which highlighted the issue last year, echoed the concerns. Education inspector Estyn, which highlighted the issue last year, echoed the concerns.
Inspector Meilyr Rowlands said: "It's like bullying really, we know it happens but because it's something that happens informally we don't actually have figures on it.Inspector Meilyr Rowlands said: "It's like bullying really, we know it happens but because it's something that happens informally we don't actually have figures on it.
Literacy link
"We hope it's not very common and hope it's decreasing because we clearly think it's unlawful and therefore not helpful to the young people involved or for their families."We hope it's not very common and hope it's decreasing because we clearly think it's unlawful and therefore not helpful to the young people involved or for their families.
"Clearly there should not be any unlawful exclusions at all but we would also like to see a reduction in the number of permanent and temporary exclusions.""Clearly there should not be any unlawful exclusions at all but we would also like to see a reduction in the number of permanent and temporary exclusions."
Literacy link
Both organisations said much could be done to combat the practice.Both organisations said much could be done to combat the practice.
Estyn said it had identified a "very clear link" between between literacy and bad behaviour, which often leads to unofficial exclusions.Estyn said it had identified a "very clear link" between between literacy and bad behaviour, which often leads to unofficial exclusions.
It said if literacy skills could be improved by making courses, curriculums and teaching methods more interesting, maybe bad behaviour and exclusions, both official and unofficial, could be reduced.It said if literacy skills could be improved by making courses, curriculums and teaching methods more interesting, maybe bad behaviour and exclusions, both official and unofficial, could be reduced.
SNAP strongly recommended that inter-agency meetings be automatically introduced if any child is excluded from school for more than 10 days.SNAP strongly recommended that inter-agency meetings be automatically introduced if any child is excluded from school for more than 10 days.
Implementation gap Deputy children's commissioner Maria Battle said it was "very disappointing that on the ground and in the reality of children's lives the problem is still the same as it was".
Deputy children's commissioner, Maria Battle, said it was "very disappointing that on the ground and in the reality of children's lives the problem is still the same as it was".
"There seems to be in Wales some of the best policies in the world but there's this huge implementation gap and we're going to concentrating on closing that gap."There seems to be in Wales some of the best policies in the world but there's this huge implementation gap and we're going to concentrating on closing that gap.
"We need to make recommendations a reality in children's lives and in their families lives.""We need to make recommendations a reality in children's lives and in their families lives."
A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said the information from SNAP was useful but could not be considered as definitive view about unofficial exclusions in Wales. The Welsh Assembly Government said the information from SNAP was useful, but could not be considered as definitive view about unofficial exclusions in Wales.