Having your child excluded from school can be an upsetting, difficult and a worrying time for you and your child.
Exclusion should not be used for:
- minor incidents such as not doing homework or not bringing dinner money.
- poor academic performance.
- lateness or truancy.
- breaking school uniform rules or rules on appearance including jewellery, body piercing and hairstyle (except where the behaviour is persistent and in open defiance of school rules).
- the behaviour of parents.
- parents refusal to come to a meeting.
An exclusion can be for a Fixed Period. Only the head of a school can exclude a pupil or, in the heads absence, the most senior teacher.
When deciding to exclude a pupil the head should:
- make sure that a thorough investigation has been carried out.
- give the child the chance to say what happened.
- think carefully about the evidence available.
- take into account the school’s behaviour policy.
- check whether bullying or harassment of your child led to your child’s actions.
- if necessary consult with others.
Within one school day from deciding to exclude your child the head should send a letter to you which must include:
- the precise period of the exclusion.
- the reasons for the exclusion.
- your right to state your case to the governors and how to go about this.
An exclusion can also be Permanent. Again, only the head of a school can exclude a pupil or, in the heads absence, the most senior teacher.
Permanent exclusion should be used as a last resort when all other alternatives have been exhausted.
Your child should only have been permanently excluded:
- if they have seriously broken the school’s behaviour policy and
- it would seriously harm the education or welfare of themselves or others if they stayed in school.
For further support and information:
Phone ask on 08457 585072 or email helpline@askwiltshire.org
Phone the ACE (The Advisory Centre for Education) 24 hour exclusion line 020 7704 9822, general helpline 0808 8000327 (Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm) or visit the ACE website.
Phone your local Education Welfare Service and speak to an Education Welfare Officer (EWO).
The EWO will work with you, your child and the school to try and resolve the situation.
For:
- North Wiltshire phone 01249 658978
- Kennet phone 01380 720721
- Salisbury phone 01722 743907
- West Wiltshire phone 01225 713791
