To receive the latest qualified exclusion appeal data and the views of those children who have been excluded.

(Note:  Dan Hamer, Head of Service (Vulnerable Pupils) will be present for this item.)

Dan Hamer, Head of Service for Vulnerable Pupils outlined the submitted paper which provided an update on exclusions within Torbay.  It was noted that since the report had been written the whole year figures had been received and there had been 11 primary and 32 secondary exclusions over the past year, with no change to the reported data for special schools.  Primary exclusions had started to reduce but there had been a significant increase in poor behaviour and assaults between secondary school pupils.  Members noted the high numbers of vulnerable children who were being excluded and were at risk of exploitation and the negative impact that this had on their education and future attainment.

The ambition was for Torbay to be a zero-exclusion authority working with schools, children, young people and their families and other agencies to understand the support required to prevent children from being permanently excluded from school.  Mr Hamer outlined the multi-agency approach to this journey and some of the barriers to this including some schools with zero tolerance policies.  Members asked the following questions:

·                     Children supported through pupil premium were more likely to be excluded than their peers and 43.5% of exclusions were children at risk of exploitation, what action was being taken to keep these vulnerable children safe.

·                     Were relationships with schools improving and what further improvements could be done to ensure consistency and support across all schools.

·                     There was a new Government strategy which involved target setting with schools around attendance how could these be used to reduce the number of exclusions and support families and children.

·                     Were case studies being examined to identify issues and good practice.

·                     What work was being done nationally and how were the issues in the Timpson report being addressed.

·                     Trauma informed practice was being used in some schools to look at those at risk of exclusion and what support could be put in place to prevent them from being excluded, was this approach used in Torbay.

·                     What was the impact of zero tolerance policies on vulnerable children and what was being done to support and challenge schools with such policies.

·                     Councillors were Corporate Parents was there opportunities for them to influence schools with zero tolerance policies.

·                     What support was provided to support staff who were regularly assaulted.

·                     Schools were not reporting incidents as bullying, what was the reason behind this and were there high levels of bullying via social media.

·                     What sort of training was provided to school staff and governors to raise awareness of issues such as grooming and exploitation.

·                     Do schools still have nurture provision.

·                     How were children who were permanently excluded tracked to ensure that they were not being excluded from multiple schools.

·                     How was the community involved in supporting children at risk of exclusion from school.

·                     Were post 16 exclusions monitored and those children and families supported.

Resolved (unanimously):

1.         that the Director of Children’s Services be requested to consider how the community and voluntary sector can become more involved in supporting vulnerable children and their families to help reduce the numbers of children permanently excluded from school; and

2.         that the TASH (Torbay Association of Secondary Headteachers) and TAPS (Torbay Association of Primary Headteachers) be recommended to ensure that governor and staff training includes awareness of the impact of exclusions on young people and to consider reviewing the curriculum across all schools (working together) to ensure it meets the needs of all children.