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<p>It is critical for schools to be calm and disciplined environments, for pupils
and teaching staff, and it is important that they remain as such.</p><p>There is no
right number of exclusions, but we are clear that permanent exclusion should only
be used as a last resort. Exclusion from school should not mean exclusion from good
quality education or from support needed to reduce risk and vulnerability.</p><p>We
are taking forward an ambitious programme of work on school behaviour and are working
to rapidly improve the availability of good alternative provision, so that permanently
excluded children and children at risk of exclusion receive high-quality education
and support suited to their individual needs. We are also working with Ofsted to clamp
down on off-rolling, which is never acceptable.</p><p>We will also revise guidance
on exclusions to make it clearer and more consistent, so that head teachers have the
information they need to use exclusion properly and proportionately. We will continue
to engage with key stakeholders including Just for Kids Law when revising guidance.</p><p>Schools
must have due regard to the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) statutory guidance,
when carrying out their duties, to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
This guidance already provides information for all staff as to what abuse, sexual
abuse, child sexual exploitation and peer-on-peer abuse look like, indicators to be
aware of, what to do and who to report to, if they have a concern about a child.</p><p>On
1 September 2020, a revised version of KCSIE was published. This includes more detail
regarding child sexual exploitation and child criminal exploitation in part one, which
all staff should read. The guidance is available here:<br> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2</a>.</p><p>It
is right that, where it comes to individual cases, local professionals are best placed
to decide on the measures to support victims and child perpetrators.</p><p>In addition,
the department provided £7 million to the See, Hear, Respond service led by Barnardo’s
which will deliver, among other things, street-based youth work to identify and support
children at risk of harm outside of the home, including criminal exploitation. Additionally,
the £13 million Trusted Relationships Fund (2018-22) funds 11 different local authorities
across England delivering innovative approaches to supporting children and young people,
aged 10-17 years, at risk of child sexual exploitation or abuse, criminal exploitation
and peer-on-peer abuse.</p><p>The department is also funding a £2 million Tackling
Child Exploitation support programme to help safeguarding partners in local areas
develop an effective response to extra-familial harms such as child sexual and child
criminal exploitation.</p><p>The Home Office has invested £70 million into Violence
Reduction Units (VRUs) to help tackle serious violence in the 18 worst affected areas.
VRUs are non-statutory partnerships which offer leadership and strategic coordination
of the local response to serious violence by bringing together police, local government,
health and education professionals, community leaders and other key partners to identify
the drivers of serious violence and agree a multi-agency response to them.</p><p>This
government is also investing £20 million this year to crack down on the county lines
gangs who are exploiting our children and having a devastating impact on our communities.
This includes investment to significantly uplift the law enforcement response to county
lines, develop several wider national capabilities, and increase specialist support
for young people and their families who are affected by county lines exploitation.</p>
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