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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| School exclusions remain problem | School exclusions remain problem |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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 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 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. | |
| 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. | |
| The practice of unofficial school exclusions is still going on a year after a report condemned it | |
| SNAP Cymru 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 said it could 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 inspector 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 | 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." |
| 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. |
| 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." |
| The Welsh Assembly Government said the information from SNAP was useful, but could not be considered as a definitive view about unofficial exclusions in Wales. |