Title page
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 4
FOREWORD 5
SUMMARY 6
GLOSSARY 9
1. A NEW EPIDEMIC OF CHILDREN LOSING LEARNING 11
EXCLUSION AS A CONTINUUM 11
HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE LOSING LEARNING? 13
2. WHO IS LOSING LEARNING? 21
WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO BE LOSING LEARNING? 21
EXCLUSIONS CONTINUUM AS AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM 33
3. SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IN CRISIS 35
RISING SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS 35
INSUFFICIENT CAPACITY IN MAINSTREAM SCHOOLS 36
RISING LOCAL AUTHORITY SPEND 37
4. WHAT WE HAVE TO GAIN FROM REDUCING EXCLUSION 40
REDUCING A WIDENING ATTAINMENT GAP 40
REDUCING RATES OF ECONOMIC INACTIVITY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE 41
CREATING VULNERABILITY TO CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT 42
SAVINGS TO THE TAXPAYER BY REDUCING PERMANENT EXCLUSIONS 42
REFERENCES 45
APPENDIX 53
TABLE 1.1. Prevalence across the exclusions continuum 19
TABLE 2.1. Disproportions across the exclusions continuum 30
TABLE 3.1/TABLE 3.2. Mismatch of funding for those most in need 39
TABLE 4.1. Quality across the exclusion continuum 41
TABLE 4.2. Cost to the state of permanently excluding a 14-year-old 43
FIGURE 1.1. The exclusions continuum 12
FIGURE 1.2. Days lost to unauthorised absence 14
FIGURE 1.3. Sharp rise in suspensions post-pandemic 15
FIGURE 1.4. Increased reliance on private alternative provision providers 16
FIGURE 1.5. Rise of elective home education 17
FIGURE 1.6. Percentage rise post-pandemic 20
FIGURE 2.1. Disproportionate lost learning among children eligible for free school meals 23
FIGURE 2.2. Disproportionate lost learning of children known to social services 23
FIGURE 2.3. The most common special educational needs 25
FIGURE 2.4. Disproportionality of lost learning based on special educational needs and disabilities 26
FIGURE 2.5. Disproportionate lost learning of children of racialised identities 28
FIGURE 3.1. Rising demand for additional support 36
FIGURE 3.2. Soaring school budget deficits 38
TABLE A1. Lost learning is not seen equally across the country 53
FIGURE A1. Unauthorised absence and suspension rates by local authority area over the 2022/23 period 54