THE government has pledged to cut the “exclusion rate” for children with conditions such as ADHD and autism after an independent review found that some pupils who struggle to “fit in” are still being quietly moved out of Jersey classrooms.
The commitment is part of Jersey’s first neuroinclusive strategy, a three-year plan to improve support for neurodivergent Islanders, published yesterday by the Health Department and Autism Jersey.
Education is one of seven priority areas in the long-awaited strategy, which calls for a review of teacher training, stronger advocacy and support for pupils, and a plan to reduce the exclusion rate for neurodivergent children.
Only 14% of the hundreds of Islanders surveyed as part of the strategy’s consultation said they believed neurodivergent pupils currently receive fair treatment in education, while 42% said school staff lack the training needed to understand and respond to their needs.
The strategy is based on information collected over a four-month period from more than 500 Islanders. Data was collected through several channels including workshops held with individuals, families, carers and professionals as well as an online survey. Specialist workshops were also held at HMP La Moye.
A steering group, made up of people with lived experience along with service and charity professionals, will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of the 24 agreed actions. The group is now in the process of developing an implementation plan, which will set out how the actions will be achieved.
Health Minister Tom Binet said: “I’m delighted that the first Neuroinclusive Strategy for Jersey has been published. This is a wonderful piece of partnership work which clearly sets out how we can create an Island to support everyone to thrive, actively participate and contribute their strengths as well as to experience the best life that they can.”
Andy Weir, director of Mental Health, Social Care and Community Services, who is a member of the steering group, added: “I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the development of this comprehensive strategy. We will need to work collaboratively to ensure we fulfil its priorities but we’re committed to delivering the actions within the next three years so we can create an Island that is truly supportive of neurodiverse Islanders.”
It comes just days after a highly critical review of inclusive education in Jersey was published.
The 2025 Island SEND Review examined the quality of education provided in state schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
It concluded that, four years after ministers promised to make inclusion a reality, too many pupils are still being failed.
It also found that “too few disadvantaged or vulnerable” pupils are having their “full range of needs met” – and said leadership, organisation and accountability around inclusion were “not sufficiently effective”.
Responding to the findings of the SEND review, one parent, Andrew Wright, said the report reflected the concerns that families had been raising for years.
“There has been a systematic indifference to SEND children. But it’s more than indifference: it is borderline contempt,” he said.
Another parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “My child was repeatedly excluded, misunderstood, and pushed towards functional segregation rather than supported with proper inclusion.
