PUPIL suspensions and exclusions have soared to record highs in England amid unions’ warnings of a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Send) crisis, widespread child poverty and failures to reintegrate children after the pandemic.

Department for Education data published today revealed suspensions rose by 36 per cent in a year to the “highest ever” 786,961 in the 2022-23 academic year in England.

Permanent exclusions also hit a record high after rising by 44 per cent to 9,376 that year, it said.