Commentary: Taking steps to reduce school exclusions: child and adolescent mental health trajectories in relation to exclusion from school from The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) - a commentary on Tejerina-Arreal et al. (2020).

Abstract

The mental health of young people and exclusion from school are both topics of current interest. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) brings these two themes together and, in doing so, sheds light on the links between exclusion rates and young people's mental health. Separate consideration is given to what has been happening in the United Kingdom as regards mental health and education; education and exclusion; and alternative provision (AP) and excluded pupils, before these strands are drawn together. The ramifications of the government's plans for improving provision for young people's mental health are seen in a positive light as it gives schools a pathway from support in the classroom through to access to CAMHS. It is suggested that closer working between health and education should lead to earlier intervention and that this should include pupils being placed in specialist or AP without the need to be excluded before this happens.