The North Yorkshire Council Children and Young People's Service - Executive Members & Corporate Director Meetings were scheduled to meet on Wednesday 10 September 2025. According to the agenda, the meeting was to focus on the increasing number of children being excluded from school, and the council's duty to arrange suitable education for excluded children. The report pack includes a recommendation to approve a consultation on the agreed model of provision.

Statutory Day 6 Provision

The report pack included a report on primary exclusions and day 6 provision, which provided information on the rising number of school exclusions and sought approval to undertake consultation on the agreed model of provision.

The council has a statutory duty under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 to provide suitable, full-time education for children of compulsory school age who are excluded, ill, or otherwise unable to attend school. The report noted a significant increase in primary school exclusions in recent years, posing a challenge to the council in arranging suitable education within six days of exclusion.

According to the report, permanent exclusions of primary-aged children in North Yorkshire have risen from 5 in 2021/22 to 25 in 2024/25, mirroring regional and national trends. The number of primary school children facing suspensions, which are short-term exclusions, has also increased over the same period.

The council was scheduled to consider alternative options for addressing the rise in exclusions, including:

• Commissioning an education provider, such as a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), to offer a small satellite primary PRU model, including preventative places.
• Formalising and extending the nurture based model in primary schools.
• Arranging bespoke education provision for excluded children with private tuition providers.

The report pack stated that the preferred option for consultation was to commission an education provider such as a PRU to offer a small satellite primary PRU model including preventative places.

For example, 5 bases across North Yorkshire, 6 places in each base Those places not in use to provide a statutory place can be used flexibly as a preventative placement for schools via a request to the LA

The consultation process, if approved, was scheduled to begin in September 2025 and involve schools, parents/carers, and PRUs.

The report pack also included information on the financial implications of the proposed model, stating that the delivery of the proposed model would rely upon either the redirection of High Needs Funding¹ from the existing commitments or the allocation of new funding.

The report author, Chris Reynolds, and Julie Bunn, Interim Head of Alternative Provision, noted that the current model is not sustainable, and sought permission to consult on new arrangements.

Climate Change Implications

The report pack included an initial climate change impact assessment. The assessment concluded that a full climate change impact assessment was not relevant or proportionate at this stage, as the decision was seeking a consultation. However, it noted that this would be reviewed as the project proceeds.

Equalities Implications

The report pack also included an initial equality impact assessment screening form. The form concluded that a full EIA² was not relevant or proportionate, as the decision was seeking a consultation. However, it noted that this would be reviewed as the project proceeds.