A child aged three or four was temporarily removed from a United Kingdom state nursery school during the 2022–23 academic year for reported “abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity,” according to data from the Department for Education (DfE).
The Daily Telegraph first reported the incident, though specific details about the child’s actions were not disclosed.
The case emerged alongside other data showing 94 students at state primary schools in England were suspended or expelled the same year for homophobic or transphobic behaviour.
Among these, ten were in Year One (ages five to six) and three in Year Two (ages six to seven).
Advocacy groups and critics have condemned the suspensions, arguing young children lack the capacity to understand such concepts.
Helen Joyce, advocacy director at human rights organization Sex Matters, called the incident an example of gender ideology extremes.
"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,” said Joyce.
"Worse still, this is not an isolated case. Apparently 13 four and five-year-olds were suspended or permanently excluded from school for the same reason. 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."
Data shows suspensions and expulsions for homophobia or transphobia in primary schools rose from 164 in 2021–22 to 178 in 2022–23.
Essex recorded the highest number (16), followed by Birmingham (15), Bradford (11), and Norfolk (8).
These statistics have only been tracked since 2020–21.
Lord Young, director of the Free Speech Union, called the suspensions “unbelievable,” arguing that rigid policies punishing toddlers reflect a “dogmatic” ideology needing reassessment.
"It beggar’s belief that schools are suspending children as young as five for breaching their ‘transphobia’ policy,” said Young.
"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."
A DfE spokesperson stated that all students and staff “should feel safe and protected at school” and emphasized the government’s commitment to behaviour standards.
"All pupils and staff should feel safe and protected at school and should never face violence or abuse,” said a DfE spokesman.
"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 DfE’s Plan for Change includes expanded breakfast clubs, mental health resources, and attendance-focused school improvement teams.
Critics, however, say that the transphobic suspensions highlight misplaced priorities.