School Exclusions and Suspensions
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About School Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions
Being excluded from school can be very worrying and upsetting for you, your child or young person.
A suspension or permanent exclusion from school means that a child is no longer allowed to be at school or attend lessons.
Every school has a behaviour policy, which lists the rules of conduct for pupils. You can ask the school for a copy of the policy document. If your child has broken any of the rules within the policy, they will get a suspension or a permanent exclusion.
The language used to describe exclusions can be confusing.
The council has a web page all about School suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Statutory guidance for suspensions and permanent exclusions sets out what schools and local authorities must do.
Download our Suspension and permanent exclusion checklist (PDF. 111Kb) to help you gather information about the exclusion.
Suspensions
What happens
You will be notified by the school about your child’s suspension without delay. The school must follow this up with a letter stating the reasons and the duration of the suspension. The school will also tell the council and other relevant professionals about the suspension.
Suspensions can be for as long as the school think is necessary. They must be no longer than 45 days in one academic year.
Appealing against a suspension
You can appeal the school’s decision to suspend your child in writing to the chair of school governors expressing your opinion and reasons why you feel they should review their decision.
What happens next
Up to day 6, the school need to send work home for your child to continue with whilst suspended.
On day 6, the school need to provide off site education. This is usually in a different school or setting.
Returning to school
The school will send you a time and date for a re-integration meeting. If you cannot make this meeting contact the school to arrange a time that is good for everyone.
This is a chance to meet with staff, discuss what has happened and plan a way forward.
It is important that you attend this meeting.
Permanent Exclusions
What happens
You will be notified by the school about your child’s exclusion without delay. The school must follow this up with a letter stating the reasons for the exclusion and the fact that it is permanent. The school will also tell the Council's Exclusions Officer and all other relevant professionals.
By day 6 of their exclusion your child will need placing in different full-time education.
What happens next
The Exclusions Officer will make an appointment to have an interview with you and your child. This is to:
- explain the permanent exclusion process
- assess your child to see what kind of alternative provision will be suitable.
Governors’ meeting
The school's governors meet to review the head teacher’s exclusion decision. This happens between days 6 and 15 of the exclusion.
The school will tell you and the Exclusions Officer when this meeting is.
You and your child should attend this meeting. It is a chance to put your views and opinions to the panel of governors.
The school will send an information pack to you 5 days before the meeting. This tells you about the reasons for the head teacher’s decision to exclude.
The governors and the Exclusions Officer will also receive the same pack. You should read the pack and make notes if you need to.
Remember to bring the pack with you to the meeting and refer to it if needed.
After the governor's meeting
The notes from the meeting will include the governors’ final decision and should be made available to all parties involved upon request.
Independent appeals
If the governors uphold the exclusion, the Exclusions Officer will write to you. They will tell you about your right of appeal, the date by which you must do it and give the information and forms to do so.
If you are not happy with the governors’ decision you can appeal to the Independent Review Panel (IRP).
Governors can only reinstate or uphold exclusions. An Independent Review Panel can reinstate, uphold, or overturn exclusions.
Your child will continue to get full time education by the council during the appeal process.