Schools do all that they can to avoid exclusions.

They employ a number of early intervention strategies, with  policies and procedures to promote positive behaviour, with alternatives to exclusion.  

However, there are occasions when due to breaches of  a school’s behaviour policy, a head teacher, (or acting head teacher in the head teacher’s absence) takes the decision to exclude a pupil, either for a fixed period or permanently.  

All exclusions follow the national guidance, “Improving behaviour and attendance: guidance on exclusion from schools and Pupil Referral Units” (2008).  

Fixed period exclusion
The decision to exclude a pupil for a fixed period will only be taken in response to breaches of the school’s behaviour policy, including persistent disruptive behaviour.  

If a child receives a fixed period exclusion they will be told not to come into school for a certain number of days. Fixed period exclusions should not exceed a total of 45 school days in a school year.   

Permanent exclusion
The decision to exclude a pupil permanently will be taken:
a) in response to a serious breach of the school’s behaviour policy; or
b) if allowing the pupil to remain in school would seriously harm the education or welfare of the pupil or others in the school

If your child receives a permanent exclusion, they will not be able to return to that school again, although your child is entitled to an independent appeal.  

What happens whilst my child is excluded?
If your child is excluded from school, you need to be aware of the following:

•    The school they have been excluded from remains responsible for a child's education from days 1-5 of the exclusion, and should send work home for the child to complete during this time
•    Children should not be found in a public place in school hours during this period without reasonable justification
•    In the case of a fixed term exclusion, school will make arrangements to provide full-time education for a pupil excluded over five days.
•    In the case of a permanent exclusion, the local authority will make arrangements for full-time education to start by the sixth day of the exclusion.  This provision will continue until the pupil is back on roll of an alternative school.

Support from the local authority
If you have any queries regarding exclusions, and have already spoken with your child’s school, please contact the following:

Chris Shaw – education safeguarding officer 01925 443179
Emma Coupe – vulnerable pupils manager 01925 442928