Reintegration and exclusions Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

1. My child's school telephones me and asks me to take my child home for a "cooling off" period. Is this an exclusion?
2. How should I find out if my child is excluded?
3. What types of exclusion are there?
4. My child has been excluded and I am unhappy about the school's decision. What do I do?
5. Should the school provide work during the exclusion?
6. What is a Reintegration Interview / Meeting?
7. What happens if my child is excluded for more than five days?
8. I have been told that I am now responsible for keeping my child away from public places during the first five says of exclusion. is this true?
9. I have been warned that my child is at risk of permanent exclusion. what can i do to prevent this?
10. Where can I get some advice?
11. I am the foster carer of an excluded child. Are the exclusion rules different for Looked After Children?
12. My child's Head teacher had suggested a Managed Move. What does this mean?

Answers

1. Q. My child's school telephones me and asks me to take my child home for a "cooling off" period. Is this an exclusion?
   A. No, this is not an official exclusion. The Department for Education makes it clear that if a pupil has committed a disciplinary offence, formal exclusion is the only legal method of removing a pupil from school. No other method is legal, even with the consent of parents or carers.
   
   
2. Q. How should I find out if my child is excluded?
   A. The school should phone you as soon as the decision to exclude has been made. This should be followed up by a letter within one school day. The letter must state the precise period of exclusions for fixed period or the fact that it is a permanent exclusion.
   
   It must also explain the reason for the exclusion, the parents' rights to make representations to the governing body and who to contact if you wish to make representations.
   
   The letter should also give you contact details of agencies offering advice and guidance about exclusions.
   
   
3. Q. What types of exclusion are there?
   A. There are three types of exclusion:
   
   
   • Fixed Period Exclusion - A pupil may be excluded for any period up to 45 days in any school year. A date is given for the pupil's return to the same school.
     
   • Lunchtime Exclusion - A pupil is excluded from school during the lunchtime period. Lunchtime exclusions are equivalent to a half-day exclusion and the Secetary of State does not expect lunchtime exclusion to be used for a prolonged period, e.g for longer then a week.
     
     Arrangements should be made for pupils who are entitled to free school meals to recieve their entitlement which may mean for example, providing a packed lunch.
     
   • Permanent Exclusion - It is not intended that the pupil will return to the same school. Parents may choose to apply to another school through Pupil Addmissions, using a CA1 Form.
     
     
     
4. Q. My child has been excluded and I am unhappy about the school's decision. What do I do?
   A. Parents have the right to make representations (state their case in writing or at a meeting) to the school governors, see below for details:
   
   

   cumulative number of days within the same term	Parents' right to make representation	Governors meet and timescale for meeting
   Less than 5 days exclusion	In writing, although parents can request meeting	Only at discretion of governors, no legal timescale to adhere to. governors cannot direct reinstatement
   5.5 to 15 days exclusion	Parents have the right to request meeting	Governors meet between 6th and 50th school day after notification of exclusion
   15.5 (or more) days / permanent exclusion	Meeting must be held - parents invited	Meeting must be held between 6th and 15th day after governors' notification of exclusion

   
   

   In the case of permanent exclusion, even if the governors have agreed with the head's decision to exclude, you have the right of appeal. You must write to the named person mentioned in the decision letter, giving reasons for your decision to appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel.
   

   
   
5. Q. Should the school provide work during the exclusion?
   A. It is the school's duty to send work home for excluded pupils for the first five days of any fixed period exclusion or for the first five days of a permanent exclusion. It is the parents' responsibility to return completed work to the school for marking.
   
   
6. Q. What is a Reintegration Interview / Meeting?
   A. It is good practice when an exclusion has been served for parents to have a meeting with school staff to discuss how best the pupil can return to school and be successful. The school should not extend a fixed period exclusion if parents are unable to attend. The pupil should return to school, and the reintegration meeting can be held later.
   
   
   • The head teacher must arrange a reintegration interview with parents during or following the expiry of any fixed period exclusion of a primary-aged pupil.
   • The head teacher must arrange a reintegration interview with parents following the expiry of a fixed period exclusion of six or more school days of a secondary aged pupil. The pupil should normally attend all or part of the interview, which should be conducted by the head teacher or a senior member of staff. 
     
     
7. Q. What happens if my child is excluded for more than five days?
   A. Where a pupil is given a fixed period exclusion of six days or longer, the school has a duty to arrange suitable full-time educational provision from the sixth school day of the exclusion.
   
   This means, for example that if a pupil receives a fixed period of seven school days, the school will have a duty to arrange two days of suitable full-time education.
   
   Schools are encouraged by the Department for Education to develop arrangements with nearby schools to receive the others' excluded pupils from Day Six of an exclusion until the exclusion is spent. After this time the pupil will be reintegrated into his or her original school.
   
   
8. Q. I have been told that I am now responsible for keeping my child away from public places during the first five says of exclusion. is this true?
   A. Yes. Since September 2007 the new guidelines from the Department for Education states that it is now the responsibility of parents (during the first five days of exclusion) to ensure their excluded child is not present in a public place during school hours without reasonable justification.
   
   This applies even if the parent/s accompany their child. Parents can be prosecuted or be liable to a £50 fixed penalty notice if they have not complied with this requirement without reasonable justification.
   
   Reasonable justification may be for example, a hospital appointment for the child. A shopping trip would not be accepted as reasonable justification. If found in a public place, during the first five days of exclusion, the pupil may be removed from the public place by the police and taken to a designated place.
   
   
9. Q. I have been warned that my child is at risk of permanent exclusion. what can I do to prevent this?
   A. It is really important to keep open the lines of communication between home and school. Your child is at greater risk of permanent exclusion when communication breaks down. If you are concerned, you will be able to get some information and advice from the Exclusions Service.
   
   
10. Q. Where can I get some advice?
    A. For help and more information on reintegration and exclusions, you can get in touch using the contact details available on the Contact Info page.
    
    
11. Q. I am the foster carer of an excluded child. Are the exclusion rules different for Looked After Children?
    A. Yes. If a Looked After Child (LAC) is excluded, it is the school's responsibility to find an alternative educational setting for the pupil on Day 1 of a fixed term exclusion.
    
    Worcestershire Local Authority prioritises the needs of LAC and strives to avoid Permanent Exclusion for "Looked After" pupils.
    
    
12. Q. My child's Head teacher had suggested a Managed Move. What does this mean?
    A. A Managed Move is often suggested by schools when it is felt that a change of educational setting would benefit the pupil. Sometimes a pupil's behaviour, learning and relationships within school will improve dramatically if the pupil is moved to a new school suitable for his or her educational needs, giving a chance for a new, well planned and supported start. It is often used as an alternative to permanent exclusion.
    
    A Managed Move may only take place if all parties agree to it.
    
    Parents must not be pressurised into agreeing to a Managed Move, although they must realise that permanent exclusion may follow a refusal to co-operate with a Managed Move.
    
    If a pupil is thought suitable for a Managed Move, the Head teacher puts the pupil's name before a Panel that meets regularly. At the meeting the pupil may be accepted on a trial basis at another school.
    
    To be successful, the Managed Move needs to be carefully planned and supported with regular reviews.
    
    The trial period lasts for ten weeks. During the ten weeks (if appropriate) the pupil's transport to the receiving school will be supported by the Fair Access Area Panel (FAAP). If the move is successful, the pupil will be taken on roll at the receiving school. If at any time during the ten weeks, the Managed Move fails, the pupil returns to the original school.
    
    Please see the Managed Moves Leaflet for Parents or for more information you can check out the School Admissions page.