A toddler was kicked out of nursery after being accused of being transphobic or homophobic, it has been revealed. Data from the Department of Education showed a young child had been suspended from a state school for “abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity”, The Telegraph reports.
The child was reportedly aged either three or four and had been suspended during the 2022-23 academic year. No further details of the case or the specific school were disclosed. Figures also reportedly show that 94 pupils at state primary schools were suspended, or in some cases permanently excluded, for transphobia and homophobia in 2022-23.
Of these, 10 pupils were in year one and three were in year two where the maximum age a pupil can be is just seven.
The data also included a child of nursery age.
Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at Sex Matters, told The Telegraph: “Every once in a while, the extremes of gender ideology throw up a story that seems too crazy to believe, and a toddler being suspended from nursery for so-called ‘transphobia’ or homophobia is one such example.”
Ms Joyce said this “is not an isolated” case, highlighting 13 four or five-year-olds had been suspended or permanently excluded for the same reason.
She added: “Teachers and school leaders involved in this insanity should be ashamed of themselves for projecting adult concepts and beliefs onto such young children.
“It’s unforgivable for children’s vital early education to be so traumatically disrupted by school leaders who prioritise activists’ demands over their charges’ wellbeing.”
According to the newspaper, across all state primary schools, the number of pupils suspended or expelled for homophobic or transphobic behaviour increased to 178 in 2022-23, up from 164.
Essex saw the highest number of suspensions and exclusions in the 2022-23 academic year with 16.
Director of the Free Speech Union, Lord Young, told The Telegraph: “It beggar’s belief that schools are suspending children as young as five for breaching their ‘transphobia’ policy.”
A spokesman for the Department of Education told the paper: “All pupils and staff should feel safe and protected at school and should never face violence or abuse.
“The Education Secretary has been clear that she expects school leaders to enforce good behaviour and we are committed to a comprehensive programme of behaviour support for schools.
“Our Plan for Change sets out our relentless focus on making sure every child gets the best life chances, no matter their background, including establishing free breakfast clubs in every primary school, providing access to mental health support and making attendance one of the four core priorities of our school improvement teams.”
