Government unveils plans to improve education for children with additional needs

The Alternative Provision Innovation Fund will be used to test and develop projects that support children back into mainstream or special schools, as well as encouraging parental and carer involvement in the education of their child.

It will also support schemes that support young people as they move from alternative provision into training or further education at post-16.

The government has also confirmed, as reported by CYP Now earlier this week, that former children's minister Edward Timpson will lead a review into school exclusions, looking at how the use and levels of exclusions vary from school to school, focusing on those children who are more likely to be excluded.

Department for Education figures show that within alternative provision, 77 per cent of children are diagnosed with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) - compared with 14.4 per cent in all schools. Data also shows that children in need are at least 10 times more likely to be in alternative provision or pupil referral units than other children, as well as five times more likely to be excluded from school.

The DfE said the review will also build on the government's Race Disparity Audit, seeking to tackle some of the inconsistencies it highlighted including why black Caribbean boys are more than three times as likely to be excluded from school.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds said: "It's a mark of a strong society how we treat children who are most in need of our support. Every child, whatever their background and no matter what challenges they face, should have access to a world-class education that prepares them for life in the modern world.

"Children only get one chance at their education and they deserve the best. But for too many children - and often those who are most vulnerable - there are inconsistencies when it comes to their experiences of school and too many parents are left worried and concerned.

"That's not good enough which is why we are going to improve our understanding of these important issues and tackle them head on."

Timpson said the review provides an opportunity to fully understand what drives the different rates of exclusion in the school system and the impact it has on the outcomes of children involved.

He said: "I intend to draw from the best possible expertise, knowledge and evidence of what works in the field to ensure the review can help address the clear disparities and variability that still exists in the practice, impact and experience around exclusions, starting with an open 'call for evidence' I am launching today."