Agenda item

To consider the report on Haringey school exclusions.

RECEIVED the report (pages 101-106 of the agenda pack) on fixed term and permanent exclusions in schools for the autumn term 2010/11 introduced by Peter Lewis (Director – Children and Young People’s Service (CYPS)) and Cllr Lorna Reith (Cabinet Member for Children’s Services).  A discussion and questions followed.

NOTED

• The Director of Children & Young People’s Service had identified some inaccuracies in the report. An amended School Exclusions report would be considered by the Committee at its meeting on 9^th May 2011 and the Headteachers from St. Thomas More and Gladesmore Secondary Schools would be invited (Action No 238.3).
• The report of a previous Scrutiny Review on Exclusions would be circulated to the Committee (Action no 238.1).
• The Committee asked for details about whether children who were being excluded had accessed Children’s Centres. (Action No. 238.2).

The Committee welcomed and questioned the Headteachers from Nightingale Primary School, Doda John Baptist, which had comparatively high levels of exclusions and Alexandra Primary School, Jane Flynn, where there had been no exclusions during the autumn term, on their practices regarding exclusions in their schools.

NOTED

• Nightingale Primary School had recently seen a change in the area’s demographics and this was reflected in the intake of children at the school.  The last 5 years had seen more children enter the school with complex needs which had not previously been identified.  Where a child displayed behavioural problems resulting in exclusion the school conducted an informal assessment and worked with other agencies where necessary.  The best results were when the school was able to work with the parents of a child and they engaged with the additional services offered. 
• In response to questioning Ms John-Bapstist explained that at Nightingale School every single incident was officially recorded, for example, if a parent was asked to collect a child from school early as a result of behaviour – some schools did not record this as an exclusion.
• Committee members expressed concern that children’s needs were not picked up before they started at the school and Ms John Baptist explained that in previous years children had been identified by health visitor checks and concerns followed up.
• Alexandra Primary School was a small school and had a strong ethos focussed on children understanding their behaviour and there were structures followed when bad behaviour was identified, for example a child would be sent out of class and if such behaviour persisted the next stage of the structure would be implemented. Some staff at the school had commented that the school was too lenient as there were some younger children who displayed violent behaviour. Ms Flynn worked closely with these children rather than excluding them, which she felt was sending them back to where the problem was created. 
• The Director of CYPS highlighted that there were different perceptions of levels of behaviour and different ways to deal them but all schools had access to support services to find the right programme for children to help them manage their own behaviour and return to school as quickly as possible. Schools Special Education Needs (SEN) teachers met on a termly basis and exclusions and behaviour were regular topics for discussion.
• National Research showed that between 1990-2000 black boys were eight times more likely to be excluded from school.
• In response to concerns that pupils were being excluded from the Support Centre (who had already been excluded from school) the Director of CYPS explained that it was important to maintain that there would be sanctions for inappropriate behaviour.

RESOLVED that the amended Exclusions Report be considered at the next meeting of the Committee and that representatives from St. Thomas More and Gladesmore Secondary Schools be invited.