Classroom. A student hugs a bear as she resumes class. Getty Images
A British nursery's decision to suspend a toddler for "abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity" has triggered widespread backlash, prompting political statements and online debate about disciplinary policies in early childhood education.
The unnamed child, aged 3 or 4, was suspended from a state nursery during the 2022–23 academic year, according to data from the United Kingdom's Department for Education (DfE) obtained by The Telegraph.
The Context
New figures from the DfE show that school exclusions for transphobic or homophobic behavior rose from 164 in 2021–22 to 178 in 2022–23. During the same period, 94 children in state primary schools were either suspended or permanently excluded for alleged transphobic or homophobic behavior, including 13 pupils as young as 4 or 5.
What To Know
The disclosure has triggered backlash on social media, mainly from critics of transgender activism. Former NCAA swimmer and women's sports advocate Riley Gaines wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "A 4-year-old boy in the UK was suspended from his nursery school for 'transphobia.' Yes, you read that right. We have reached peak clown world."
Author J.K. Rowling called the suspension "totalitarian insanity" and wrote, "If you think small children should be punished for being able to recognize sex, you are a dangerous zealot who should be nowhere near kids or in any position of authority over them."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer distanced himself from the incident. A spokesperson for Starmer told The Telegraph, "Obviously, the Prime Minister would not support those sorts of measures," while noting the specifics of the incident remain undisclosed.
"Pupils and staff should never be subject to abuse, but any action taken to tackle behavior should also be proportionate," the spokesperson said.
Beyond commentary, the DfE said it expects schools to act decisively but fairly.
However, for many, the most troubling part of the case is its lack of transparency. No details have been provided about what the child allegedly said or did, leaving observers to question whether any genuine harm was done or whether disciplinary policies have crossed into absurd territory.
What People Are Saying
Lord Young, director of the Free Speech Union, a non-governmental organization, told The Telegraph : "It beggars belief that schools are suspending children as young as five for breaching their 'transphobia' policy. If your ideology is so rigid it justifies you punishing toddlers for not complying with it, that's a powerful argument for discarding it."
A Department for Education spokesperson told The Independent : "All pupils and staff should feel safe and protected at school and should never face violence or abuse."
What Happens Next
The surge in disciplinary actions for transphobia comes amid broader concerns about school behavior post-pandemic. According to the DfE, more than 787,000 pupils were suspended in 2022–23, more than double the number from 2016–17. Of these, 84,339 were primary school students, up 31 percent from the previous year.
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This story was originally published March 31, 2025 at 5:44 PM.