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Latest news in Yorkshire: October 19, 2018 09:57:10 AM
Work to support school children with the “ballooning issue” of mental
health problems in Rotherham is to be included in a Government review of
the way pupil exclusions are handled nationally.
The town was selected for a “deep dive” by Department for Education
staff, to check on the work being done on dealing with exclusions in the
town and that has highlighted examples of improved ways of working which
will be flagged up as part of the review.
Rotherham Council took action three years ago after it became clear
numbers of both permanent and fixed term exclusions were increasing.
Work in the meantime has resulted in an overall fall from peak levels
several years ago, though numbers of permanent exclusions were up
slightly last year.
In the academic year starting in September 2014 there were 4,213 fixed
term exclusions, which fell to 3,550 in the year starting last
September.
There were 55 permanent exclusions in the year starting September 2014,
dropping to 38 in the 2016 academic year, though they rose to 45 in the
last full year.
In the last few years, the student population in Rotherham has grown by
ten per cent, however, and Coun Gordon Watson suggested that because
permanent exclusion levels were so low, it was more accurate to assess
them on a rolling three year basis rather than taking one year in
isolation.
New working practices were introduced because it was believed the
increase in exclusions was down to growing mental health problems being
experience by young people.
The council has two referral units, which work with children
experiencing problems, and they have been reconfigured recently, in
terms of the work staff do and the fabric of the buildings, which have
been upgraded.
Coun Watson said: “They are doing wonderful work in often challenging
circumstances. They are making a difference,” he said.
“We have seen a problem three years ago, we are working on it, it has
improved year on year and we are intending for it to continue to
improve. We will not take our eye off the ball.”
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News source: thestar.co.uk