Headteacher
Governors
| Must tell parents (initially by phone or in person) why the pupil has been excluded/suspended and for how long. This must be done without delay. |
| Must write to parents with this information and also explaining that they have right to make representations about the suspension and how to do this. |
| Must tell the Governors if an external exam or National Curriculum test would be missed or if the total days excluded in that term are more than 5. (The maximum number of days in a school year for which a child can be given fixed-term exclusions is 45.) Must also inform the governors if a parent has requested a meeting. |
Must meet if: – an external exam or National Curriculum test would be missed or – the total days excluded in that term is over 5 and parents request a meeting. If the suspension will result in the pupil missing an external or National Curriculum exam. Governors must take reasonable steps to meet before the exam. The governors do not have the power to reinstate for this length of suspension. |
| If there is a meeting, governors need to have processes in place to ensure: – that parents and pupils know they have the right to attend. Parents can also have someone to represent them at the meeting (such as an advisor from SENDIASS or a solicitor) and can bring a friend. – They have taken steps to find a convenient date that the parent, other relevant parties, the local authority representative (if relevant) and the headteacher can attend. – They have considered how to involve the pupil in the consideration process. Pupils should be enabled to make a representation on their own behalf if they wish to do so, taking into account age and understanding. – They have collected all relevant documents, anonymising them, if required, and providing them to all parties |
Governors need to know that parents always have the right to say why they object to the exclusion or give their views about it. These are called “representations” and should be made in writing . These representations must be considered by governors even where there is no requirement for a meeting. |
Must tell the LA without delay about the suspension, however short.
If the pupil is a looked after child, the Head must tell the Virtual School Head and if the pupil has a social worker, the Head must tell the social worker about the suspension – in both cases, without delay.
Entitlement to alternative education
School must take reasonable steps to set and mark work for the first five days of a period of exclusion.
If the pupil is a looked after child, schools and local authorities should work together to arrange alternative provision from the first day following the exclusion.
If it’s not possible to arrange alternative provision during the first five school days of an exclusion, schools should take reasonable steps to set and mark work for pupils.
All work provided should be something that can be done by pupils outside of school.
