Exclusion of pupils

Has your child been excluded from school? If so help is at hand.

Support for parents

If your child is permanently excluded it can be an extremely stressful and worrying time.  However you are not expected to deal with the situation alone.  The Exclusions Officer will discuss the options available for your child, often visiting you at your home, and will make arrangements on your and your child's behalf.  If your child has been seen by other professionals ie: Behaviour Support Teachers or an Educational Psychologist she will seek their views as to appropriate educational provision as well. 

The following is taken from the advice booklet for parents.  It has been produced to assist you in understanding what should happen if your child is excluded from school.  It should be treated, as guidance only and more detailed information should be available either from the school of the Exclusions Officer. There are three types of exclusion from school:

Fixed term for 15 school days or less

If your child is excluded for 15 days or less you have no legal right of appeal.  However, the Discipline Committee of the Governing Body has a duty to listen to any representation you may wish to make, although they can not overturn any exclusion of less than 6 days.  You must write to the clerk of the Discipline Committee at the school requesting such a meeting be convened. 

Fixed term for 16-45 school days

For fixed term exclusions exceeding 15 days and permanent exclusions, the clerk to the Discipline Committee must convene a meeting to consider the exclusion. (Including any amalgamation of more that 15 day exclusion in any term). You, the headteacher and the LA Exclusion Officer will be informed of the time and date of this meeting.

The school remains responsible for setting and marking work for your child during the exclusion process.  From the 6th day of any fixed term exclusion your child's schools is responsible for making arrangements for your child to receive appropriate full time educational provision.  It is advisable to contact the school during the first 5 days to discuss what arrangements are being made. 

Permanent

A permanent exclusion means that a child is not anticipated to return to that school.  During an exclusion of any length it is important that your child does not go into the school site at any time, unless invited for a Discipline Committee Meeting.

The decision to exclude a pupil from school for any length of time should not normally be made in the heat of the moment.  The headteacher should ensure he or she has all the relevant facts and firm evidence to support any allegations made before making a decision.  It is also important that the headteacher takes into account advice given by both the DfES and the LA.

• Name: Victoria Day
  Email: v.c.day@dorsetcc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01258 455202
  Full details for Victoria Day