In this episode of the Fuse ‘Public Health Research and Me’ podcast, host and Fuse public partner, Cheryl Blake, speaks with Dr Sarah Martin-Denham (University of Sunderland) and Hayley Hudson (parent and advocate) about the impact of school exclusion, especially on children and young people themselves.

Data shows that on average, 2,999 children were suspended or permanently excluded from school each school day in England in the 2021/22 academic year. But what does this number really mean? Sarah and Hayley recommend that creative methods can play a crucial role in helping us to visualise and better understand what this number represents for many families across England.

They talk about working with a team of parents to crochet 2,999 unique squares to represent each excluded child and provide a voice to an under-served section of society, resulting in a giant, colourful blanket. The blanket is touring 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. Sarah and Hayley talk about their personal experiences, key findings from the research and suggest areas for improvement and change.

Sarah and Hayley also answer the big question: "If you had one message for our listeners to take away, what would it be?" Listen now to find out.

Sarah Martin Denham

Sarah is an Associate Professor of Care and Education at the University of Sunderland and uses the creative arts to hear the experiences of children and families, particularly related to school exclusion.

Hayley Hudson

Hayley is a parent, research project partner and advocate for children and families.

About our host

Cheryl Blake is an expert by experience who has collaborated closely with Fuse and the wider public partner-led podcast planning group in creating the 'Public Health Research and Me' podcast. Her interests and specialised subjects are around mental and sexual health, domestic abuse, coercive and violent behaviour, and family court and social workers within that system. She supports survivors of sexual/abuse to find female empowerment through art, poetry and meditation.

Resources and further information

⁠Fuse⁠

⁠NIHR School for Public Health Research⁠

Excluded children at the heart of giant patchwork blanket

BBC news item – Blanket highlighting school exclusion unveiled

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Contact for more information, or a copy of the transcript prepared by Academic Audio Transcription: ⁠⁠⁠info@fuse.ac.uk⁠

With special thanks to the Fuse podcast group Emma Adams, Victoria Bartle, David Black, Cheryl Blake, Mandy Cheetham, Lesley Haley, Fiona Ling, Cassey Muir, John O’Shea, Laura Ritson, Viola Rook, Cheryl Wiscombe; David Winter and Ben Smith (editing); Shaun O'Boyle (training); and Academic Audio Transcription for transcribing content. Produced by Ella Anderson and Mark Welford. Music: Tuesday (Glitch Soft Hip-hop) by amaksi.

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