A Toddler Was Reportedly Kicked Out of a Public Preschool Because of Transphobic Behavior

ugurerden/iStock

A nursery school in the United Kingdom allegedly suspended a toddler on accusations of transphobia. The incident occurred during the 2022-2023 academic year, and schools throughout the country reportedly expelled many kids for transphobic and homophobic behaviors that year. Data from the Department for Education reveals schools kicked out children as young as 5 for similar offenses. Some experts believe the punishment was far too harsh.

According to a report from the DfE obtained by the Telegraph, officials removed 94 students from state schools in the 2022-2023 academic year for transphobic and homophobic behaviors. The children’s ages ranged dramatically, and one of the suspected children was in nursery school.

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.”

Joyce added that the school removed 13 4- and 5-year-old children either via suspension or expulsion for discriminatory behaviors. She said she believes the blame lies with adults.

“Teachers and school leaders involved in this insanity should be ashamed of themselves for projecting adult concepts and beliefs onto such young children,” she said.

“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.”

The DfE only began collecting data about students reprimanded for homophobic and transphobic behaviors in the 2021-2022 school year. Instances increased from 164 suspensions and expulsions that year to 178 the following academic year.

Lord Young, director of the Free Speech Union, told the Telegraph. “It beggars belief that schools are suspending children as young as five for breaching their ‘transphobia’ policy. I would have thought that if your ideology is so rigid it justifies you punishing toddlers for not complying with it, that’s a powerful argument for discarding it in favour of something less dogmatic.”

“All pupils and staff should feel safe and protected at school and should never face violence or abuse,” a DfE spokesman shared with the Telegraph.

“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,” the representative continued.

“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.”