Anne Longfield, Executive Chair of the Centre for Young Lives, said:

“We should be shocked by these figures. We cannot continue to stick our head in sand about the scale of the problem or its impact on some children’s life chances.

“That means focusing on why this is happening and doubling down on support for schools and teachers, and parents and children, to reduce exclusions and suspensions.

“Ministers have an opportunity to speed up SEND assessment and identification, boost children’s mental health support, and get alongside families who are struggling as part of a fresh drive by the new Government to move towards a much more inclusive education system.

“Children need to be in school learning and some need extra support to do so.”