Excluded children at the heart of giant patchwork blanket

On average, 2,999 children were suspended or permanently excluded from school each school day in England in the 2021/22 academic year.

This statistic from the Department of Education (DfE), inspired Fuse researcher Dr Sarah Martin-Denham (pictured) from the University of Sunderland and a group of parents to create a huge, crocheted blanket of 2,999 squares as part of a community creative arts project.

Each square has been handmade and donated by parents, grandparents, children, teachers, headteachers and crochet clubs – representing one of the 2,999 children impacted by suspension or permanent exclusion.

Dr Martin-Denham, Associate Professor of Care and Education at the University of Sunderland, is leading the project alongside a group of parents who have lived through supporting children who have been excluded from school.

She said: “We started the project in October 2023 and did not expect the support we have had from around the world, so many people generously giving their time to support the initiative.

“There are many different colours, styles, and textures; each square is unique. We think the completed blanket is at least 14 metres by eight metres – huge, like the challenge of reducing preventable exclusion from school.”

Dr Martin-Denham has previously organised a ‘Big Stitch Up’ event at The Link School in Sunderland where she and other project volunteers began stitching together all 2,999 squares.

One mum involved in the project said: “This project has brought children, families, friends, professionals and even communities together – an army all with the same positive message; that the systems are outdated and need to change.”

The completed blanket has been officially unveiled at Dr Martin-Denham’s annual SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators) conference at the University of Sunderland.

It will be taken out on a year-long tour of national organisations, local authorities, schools and community groups in England to encourage conversations about the extent and impact of school exclusion and what can be done to reduce preventable exclusions.

Dr Martin-Denham said: “Project 2,999 has brought together a community in a way that is wholesome and empathetic. It shows how much of a difference you can make with very little funding but a collective of people who hope for change.

“The creative arts are a powerful vehicle to amplify the voices of those often unheard and we hope the project will challenge perceptions of children excluded from school and encourage local areas to reflect on alternative approaches.”

Project 2,999: Increasing the visibility of exclusion from school​ is jointly funded by the NIHR SPHR and the University of Sunderland’s Adverse Childhood Experiences Research Network (ACE).

The project builds on Dr Martin-Denham’s ‘pullupachair’ film series, funded by Research England’s Policy Support Fund, where children aged from five to 16 who have been excluded from school and their parents share their experiences of exclusion.

Find out more about the Adverse Childhood Experiences Research Network (ACE) and ‘pullupachair’.

Project 2,999: Increasing the visibility of exclusion from school​ is a Public Involvement and Engagement small award project through the Children, Young People and Families Programme of the NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR).

Adapted with thanks to University of Sunderland

Last modified: Thu, 01 Aug 2024 15:54:45 BST