The number of children being permanently excluded from schools in Swindon is not dropping.

For secondary school pupils the number rose last year.

In 2018-19 there were 47 permanent exclusions from schools in the borough, 34 from secondary schools and 13 from primaries.

That's an increase of one over the previous year for older pupils and the same number as the previous two years for younger pupils.

The figures will be presented to councillors who site on the children's health, care and education overview and scrutiny committee at its meeting tomorrow evening.

Councillors will also learn the capacity at the Nyland Pupil Referral Unit, which cares for children permanently excluded from primary schools was doubled to 16 from eight at the start of this academic year.

But, the report notes, they spaces are already full and unlikely to become vacant until the end of the school year in July.

An exclusion 'cooling off' period policy where schools and a pupil's family could discuss alternatives to permanent exclusion was dropped in July after consultation with Swindon secondary heads' association.

The meeting begins at 6pm at the civic offices in Euclid Street. Members of the public are entitled to attend and there's a public question session.