Early Interventions: preventing school exclusions in the primary setting

Abstract

This article considers the work of one project which is working to support children who are ‘at risk’ of being excluded. Including Primary School Children (IPSC) has been working in high excluding primary schools in one inner‐London local education authority (LEA), promoting strategies for inclusion. Formally excluding children from their primary schools is a serious step. While some schools may feel they have no alternative but to exclude, a ‘solution’ for the school may add to the problems experienced by excluded children and their families. What is needed is early intervention, where schools can target ‘at risk’ children and, even more positively, prevent the damage of exclusion through promoting mental, emotional and social health for all children.