Exclusions and suspensions
When your child is suspended or permanently excluded from school it can be a very upsetting and worrying time for you, your child and your family.
In most cases, other action should have been tried before suspending or excluding a pupil. However it might be necessary for the Headteacher to take immediate action if the pupil:
- has breached the school’s behaviour policy (the school rules)
- remaining in school would have serious harm to their education or welfare
- remaining in school would have serious harm to the education or welfare of others
Any suspension or permanent exclusion should be issued on the principles of being:
- rational
- reasonable
- fair
- proportionate
Suspensions and permanent exclusions must be recorded officially. This is to help identify where support is needed and allow everybody the opportunity to exercise their rights.
Information about alternatives to suspensions or permanent exclusions.
There can be alternatives to suspensions or permanent exclusions. This can be within the school or through Fair Access including managed moves or alternative provisions.
Managed Moves
Parents and schools may agree that a new start in a different school would benefit a child who is at risk of suspension or permanent exclusion. The transfer can then be arranged between the two schools. This is known as a ‘managed move’.
Guidance is clear that schools must not use the threat of suspension or permanent exclusion to get parents to take their child out of school. You do not have to agree to a managed move if you do not want to. This process will be managed through the Fair Access process.
A governing board of an LA maintained school may require a pupil to attend another education setting to improve their behaviour. Although this legislation does not apply to academies, they can arrange off-site provision. Where intervention or targeted support has not been successful in improving a pupil’s behaviour, off site direction should be used. This should be time-limited placement at an alternative provider or another mainstream school
View our Managed Moves Guidance for Parents / Carers
Fair Access Protocol
The Fair Access Protocol (FAP) is a local agreement for placing children who are:
- vulnerable, or
- challenging
into the most appropriate education provision as quickly as possible. The protocol must also cover provision for children who are not yet ready to go back into mainstream schooling.
Children who are:
- permanently excluded, and
- are ready to reintegrate back into a mainstream school
will have their case considered through the FAP. Children considered through the FAP are given higher priority for school places. They may be offered a place at a school that is over subscribed.Find out more about the Fair Access Protocol
Education provision following a permanent exclusion
If a child is permanently excluded, the Local Authority will arrange education from the sixth day of the exclusion. This will be with an alternative provision provider. The staff at that provision will help find a place in another school for your child, or discuss an individual programme of study.