Permanent exclusion from school is a very serious matter. Only a school’s head teacher - or named deputy if the head teacher is out of school - can permanently exclude a pupil. Head teachers may decide to permanently exclude a pupil only when they are sure that:
- The pupil has seriously breached the school’s discipline policy
- If the pupil remains in school, it would seriously harm the education or welfare of the pupil or others in the school.
Further information for parents and carers can be found in the Permanent Exclusions - Information and Guidance for Parents [PDF 287KB].
Common Queries
Children at Risk of Permanent Exclusion
In the event that your child is deemed to be at risk of permanent
exclusion, the school should refer your child to the Education Welfare
Service. An education welfare officer will then contact you and will
work with the school and yourself to try to prevent your child from
being permanently excluded.
The school can draw up a pastoral support programme to outline ways
of helping your child. This plan will be agreed with you and may set
targets for the pupil, parent/carers, school and other support groups.
First Incident
Pupils will not normally be excluded for a first incident. Permanent
exclusion should not normally be used for a first serious incident
unless the headteacher feels that they must take action immediately to
protect the pupils and staff in the school. Even then they must take
time to consider the matter carefully and use permanent exclusion as a
last resort.
Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties or a Learning Difficulties
If your child has emotional and behavioural difficulties or a
learning difficulty which affects behaviour in school, the school can
ask the Local Authority (LA) to review the statement if your child is at
risk of permanent exclusion. You would be invited to the review
meeting. At the review meeting other ways of dealing with your child's
behaviour can be discussed to try to avoid permanent exclusion.
Statement for Special Educational Needs
If your child has a statement for special educational needs, the
school may present evidence about your child's educational ability,
behaviour and social background as well as the facts surrounding the
incident which led to the permanent exclusion. The LA will give its view
and say whether it feels that permanent exclusion is appropriate or
not. You will receive copies of this information in advance of the
hearing.
Notification
Once the headteacher has decided to permanently exclude your child
they should contact you immediately to explain their decision. They
should telephone you if possible on the day and the exclusion would
normally begin the following day.
The Headteacher should then write a letter to you within one school day that gives:
- the reason for your child's permanent exclusion
- the steps taken to avoid permanent exclusion
- the date that the permanent exclusion begins
- arrangements for your child to have school work to do at home
- your right to see a copy of your child's school record
- your right to give your views on your child's permanent
exclusion at a meeting with school governors on the discipline committee
- a final date for you to send any written statements to the discipline committee before the meeting
- the phone number of someone in the LA who can advise you and the phone number of the National Advisory Centre for Education.
Disagreement
If you disagree with your child's permanent exclusion, you can put
your views in writing and in person to school governors at a meeting of
their discipline committee. The clerk to the discipline committee will
write to give you the date and time of the meeting.
Discipline Committee
The discipline committee is made up of three to five of the school's
governors. They follow guidance from the government and the LA to decide
whether exclusion is being carried out correctly in the school.
At the discipline committee meeting, the governors will consider the
views of the school, you and your child and the LA. The governors can
decide to uphold your child's permanent exclusion or overturn the exclusion and allow your child to return to the same school.
Exclusion Upheld
If the discipline committee upholds the exclusion,
Nottinghamshire Learning Centre will continue to provide education for
your child until another placement has been arranged. The Local
Education Officer and your Connexions Personal Advisor will support you
through this process.
Appeal a Discipline Committee Decision
In the event that governors uphold the permanent eclusion, you can
appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel. This is arranged through the area
education base.
Further information for parents and carers can be found in the Permanent Exclusions - Information and Guidance for Parents [PDF 287KB].
Child’s Education Before Discipline Committee Meeting
For days 1-5 inclusive, the school will set work to be
done at home. During this time you have a duty to ensure that your child
is not present in a public place during school hours. You are liable to
a fine if your child is found in a public place, with or without a
parent, without good reason.
From day 6 the local authority (LA) will provide between
21 and 25 hours of education (depending on the age of your child)
through the Nottinghamshire Learning Centre.
Travel to New School
If it is the school designated by the local authority
and the distance is greater than the permitted walking distance for your
child’s age, the local authority will pay for transport, usually a bus
pass. If the school is your preferred school, you may be responsible for
getting your child to and from the school.
Public Place Within First 5 Days of Exclusion
You must ensure that your child is not present in a public place
during school hours without reasonable justification. This applies
whether or not the child is with you.
Nominated School
Once you have nominated a school, if your child is of secondary school age then the
application for another school place will be discussed at the area
admissions panel (AAP). The panel will discuss your child’s individual
needs and also take into consideration your application.
If your child is of primary school age then your
application will be considered by the Local Education Officer/ nominated
school.
Exclusion Policy Elsewhere in the UK
Government guidance has been circulated to all schools and local
authorities to ensure that all schools and support centres follow the
same rules.
Nottinghamshire Learning Centre
The Nottinghamshire Learning Centre consists of four centres across Nottinghamshire that aim to provide short term education for permanently excluded pupils and help with reintegration back into school.
