Increase in seven-year-olds facing exclusion

The amount of four and five-year-olds excluded from primary schools is on the rise, according to an expert who runs schools for excluded children.

Chief executive of the Engage Trust, Des Reynolds, told the Sunday Times that head teachers preoccupied with league tables are expelling children for behaviour they would have spent time helping in the past.

Reynolds told the paper that his youngest pupils is three and was permanently excluded from a nursery school, stating that the biggest growth area is under seven’s, “where we are seeing big increases”.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics that are due this month, are expected to show a further climb in primary-age children being expelled - this comes after the figure reaches 1,000 for the first time last year.