Children suspended multiple times before receiving proper support, council report says
One in five children reviewed by the council received no service or support prior to their suspension or exclusion
A Sheffield Council report found 65 per cent of children could have been helped earlier in their education but only received support after their needs became worse.
Between May and August 2026, Sheffield City Council worked with schools, alternative provision providers, children and families to understand the barriers young people face to being included within education.
It said the city is experiencing “sustained and increasing pressure” in education, with rising permanent exclusions, growing complexity of need and increasing demand for alternative and specialist provision.
The report heard "poor information sharing and a lack of coordinated multi-agency response" were the most significant barriers to supporting children at the "earliest opportunity".
It found one in five children reviewed had received no service or support prior to their suspension or exclusion.
It also found children often experienced multiple suspensions before receiving “robust multi-agency support.”
It also said the system is difficult for families and schools to navigate because of “fragmented referral routes, inconsistent thresholds and multiple parallel processes.”
The transition between primary and secondary school was identified as a common point where support breaks down and needs escalate.
It said alternative provision expenditure in Sheffield has increased rapidly, reaching £14.38 million in 2025/26, which is more than doubling what it was in 2020/21.
Alternative and specialist provision includes school assistance, art and talking therapy and mentoring services.
The council also commissions and refers young people to external providers who host wide ranging curriculums of activities including boxing, animal care, music production or fishing.
The children supported often have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), social, emotional and mental health needs, or disadvantages and family vulnerabilities.
The aim of alternative curriculums is to find something that suits children's needs and to reintegrate them into school.
Sheffield councillors will be recommended to approve a new strategy to support young people at risk of being excluded from school, following this “comprehensive review” of alternative education.
The new plans are intended to help more children access support earlier and closer to home, to work towards “successful reintegration” into education
If approved by the council’s education, children and families policy committee, a new 'alternative curriculum strategy' would begin next school year, and would focus on earlier intervention to prevent suspensions and exclusions.
The report and plans will be discussed at education, children and families policy committee on November 3.
If approved, the council plans to host engagement events in November and December.