Expulsion 'no solution' for problem primary pupils

Primary schools need to rethink the way they handle badly behaved pupils as the number of suspensions and expulsions skyrocket, says the Families Commission.

The problem needed to be addressed before children reached college, where behaviour was more entrenched and difficult to turn around, commissioner Kim Workman said.

Taking a "whole-of-family approach" to student management and learning meant expulsion or suspension from school was rarely necessary, he said.

"It is very concerning to see schools increasingly using stand-downs of primary-aged pupils when there are better solutions that build children and their families up, as opposed to punitive approaches which pathologise the child."

Ministry of Education statistics showed a dramatic increase in young children being taken out of class.

Stand-downs for assaults by children aged 8 increased by 88 per cent between 2000 and last year, stand-downs for 7-year-olds were up 73 per cent, for 6-year-olds up 70 per cent; and for 5-year-olds up 33 per cent.

Mr Workman said the commission supported the principle of early intervention, "but we do not support stopping a child from attending school".

He cited the example of Nelson's Victory Primary School which "enrolled the family, not just the child".

Parents were welcomed and encouraged to participate in their child's education, Mr Workman said.

"The result has been that in nine years there have been no stand-downs, truancy has been dramatically reduced, behaviour problems have been all but eliminated, families are staying in their school communities longer instead of moving away, and education outcomes have improved."

- NZPA