Every Child in School Every Day

Exclusion Terminology

Exclusion is:

A legal sanction backed by clear DfE guidance which schools can use when behaviour has breached expected standards.

DfE Guidance Expects:

The sanction of exclusion to be set in the context of a behaviour policy which has been developed in consultation with governors, staff, parents, carers and preferably pupils and communicated to them.

Fixed Term Exclusion:

• 1 to 45 days.• No more than 45 days in any one school year.• Young person returns to the school.

Permanent Exclusion:

• Young person does not return to school.

Responsibility of Schools:

• Behaviour policy with escalating steps, fairly and consistently applied, and communicated to parents and pupils.

• Use exclusion only as “last resort”.• Ensure multi-agency involvement prior to exclusion.• Notify parents immediately, stating length of

exclusion and in writing.• Provide work for first 5 days.• Ensure process is Headteacher-led.

Responsibility of Governors:

• Consider every exclusion of more than 15 days.• Consider every case where the total number of

exclusion days for a pupil exceeds 15 in a term.• Consider every proposed permanent exclusion.• Ensure LA and parents are invited to make

representation.• Ensure alternative education is in place from the 6th day

of exclusion.

Rights of Parents:

• Have access to the school behaviour policy.• Be notified of exclusion.• Attend governors committee meeting and make

representation regarding exclusion.• Appeal to an independent review panel in the case of

permanent exclusion.

Responsibility of LA:

• Attend governing body committee meetings considering individual permanent / fixed term exclusions.

• Establish an independent review panel for permanent exclusions.

• Make provision for pupils excluded from day 6.• Find alternative school place in permanent exclusion.• Monitor exclusion data city-wide.• Draw school attention to concerns arising from data.• Sign post good practice, projects, provision.• Advise both schools and parents.

“Hidden” Exclusions:

• Informal.• Supported transfer to Pupil Referral Unit.• Managed move.

– Formal– Informal (SWAP).

Top 3 Reasons for Exclusion:

• Persistent, disruptive behaviour.• Physical / verbal abuse to adults.• Physical abuse to other children and young people.

Other reasons why children are not in school or other education provision

More Likely to Not be in School if:

• Male.• Special Educational Needs.• Free School Meals.• Key Stage 4.• Below national expectations in attainment.• History of challenging behaviour.• BME.• ‘Newly Arrived’.• Poor school attendance overtime.

Possible Ways Forward:

• Continue to tighten and strengthen practice across CYPF.• Reinforce school responsibilities.• Strengthen advice and guidance to parents.• Increase parental confidence to challenge / question

schools.• Consider policy change.• Develop behaviour policy framework as guidance.• Sign post schools to best practice, projects, targeted

support.• Work with schools to develop better practice and more

options for managing challenging behaviour.• Address wider range of reasons why children are not in

school – individual and collective level.