1. SEND Disadvantage Grows Among the Youngest Pupils

A stark new report from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) warns that five‑year‑old children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are now 20.1 months behind their peers — the largest gap seen since records began  . Despite some narrowing of the disadvantage gap at primary and secondary levels between 2023 and 2024, early years pupils remain most severely affected.

For schools in counties such as Dorset and Hampshire, this translates into real pressure on reception classes, where teachers increasingly face an uphill battle to support both SEND and disadvantaged children. Although the Department for Education has announced a £9 billion investment in early education, childcare, and reception-year support, campaigners emphasise that without rapid implementation, these early delays risk cementing lifelong educational and social inequality.

2. Surge in Permanent Exclusions — Including Among Under‑Sixes

Meanwhile, exclusions across England have spiked dramatically. In the 2023–24 academic year, state schools recorded over 10,000 permanent exclusions - a 16% increase - and nearly 955,000 suspension days, a 21% rise .

Alarmingly, this trend extends to very young pupils: 471 children aged six or younger were permanently excluded, while primary schools saw over 100,000 suspension days for the first time. SEN pupils represent more than half of those excluded, including some with formal EHCPs (Education, Health and Care Plans).

Expert opinion connects this to the pandemic's lasting impact on children's social and emotional development. Schools Week and national advocacy groups, including Chance UK, are urging urgent investment in mental health, social care, and behavioural support - arguing that only these can help reduce the alarming figures.

In the South West and Hampshire regions, education leaders are voicing growing concern over whether current resources are even sufficient, as many local schools struggle to keep vulnerable students engaged rather than removed.

3. RSHE Curriculum Overhaul Aims to Counter “Incel” Culture

In a significant policy shift, the government has updated the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) guidance to address online misogyny, “incel” culture, adult content influences, and related mental health challenges.

Secondary schools nationwide will now introduce lessons on positive male role models and online misogyny prevention. Suicide prevention education is being strengthened through tailored mental health resources. The push for age-appropriate Relationships and Sex Education to start by Year 5, paired with clarifications around gender identity teaching, marks a clear break from previous Conservative-era plans.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson highlighted the urgency: recent DfE surveys reveal that over half of 11–19-year-olds have heard misogynistic remarks, and over a third report concerns for girls' safety. Schools are encouraged to bring in mental health professionals to deliver this updated guidance.

Although the reforms receive praise from experts for treating unhealthy masculinity and online radicalisation seriously - especially if supported by teacher training - critics caution that schools may not be fully prepared. Concerns linger around curriculum clarity, resource availability, and staff readiness to address such sensitive and complex issues - particularly in rural and underfunded regions.

Why This Matters Locally

Regional education leaders in Hampshire and Dorset are facing acute pressures: SEND delays in early years, growing behaviour challenges, and demands for robust RSHE rollout all compound existing staffing and funding limitations.

For parents and policymakers, these developments underscore a pressing need: to secure early investment, embed behavioural and mental health programmes, and ensure teachers are equipped to deliver RSHE effectively.

If left unaddressed, the combined weight of SEND underachievement, exclusions, and online-induced social harms could deepen inequality and hinder community cohesion - hitting local schools and families hard.

Looking Ahead

With new statutory changes coming into force by September 2025 (RSHE guidance), and the catch-up package for reception-year SEND funding set to roll out soon, the coming school year is pivotal. For journalists, educators, and parents in the South of England, and particularly in Dorset and Hampshire, monitoring how these changes are implemented at the local authority level will be crucial.