Petition · Department for Education

Ban suspensions of primary school aged children with additional needs

Closed 512 signatures

What the petition asks

We want the government to ban suspensions of primary school aged children with additional needs. We think suspensions can significantly impact a child’s progression and change needs to happen.
We believe that lack of funding for special educational needs and disabilities (“SEND”) is a national problem. We think that non-specialist primary schools are unable to provide adequate and suitable support to children with SEND, but lack of funding should not be a used as an excuse. We are concerned than when schools are “unable to handle” the needs of children with SEND, they choose to issue suspensions and other punitive measures, which we feel are ineffective and disproportionate.

We believe that issuing suspensions to children with SEND, as young as 4, is disproportionate and discriminatory.

Timeline

4 Sep 2025 Petition opened for signatures
4 Mar 2026 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 512
Status Closed
Department Department for Education
Opened 4 Sep 2025
Closed 4 Mar 2026

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 4 Aug 2026.