The first five days -

  • Places of learning should take reasonable steps to set and mark work for the first five days of any exclusion.
  • During these five days the parent/carer is responsible for the child or young person’s whereabouts. They must make sure the child or young person is not in a public place without reasonable justification during ‘school’ hours. The parent/carer could be fined if they breach this duty.

Day 6 onwards -

  • The place of learning has a duty to provide suitable full-time alternative education no later than day 6.

Fixed Term Suspension limits

  • A child or young person can only be fixed term suspended up to 45 days in one academic year (even if they’ve moved places of learning).
  • If a child or young person reaches 45 days, it can result in a permanent exclusion.  
  • Permanent exclusion should be a last resort so places of learning should be working with the child or young person, family and outside professionals to reduce fixed term suspensions where possible.

Going back to a place of learning after a fixed term suspension

  • Places of learning should have a procedure for reintegrating a child or young person back after a suspension.
  • A ‘Reintegration Meeting’ can take place, but a place of learning can’t stop the child or young person from going back after the suspension if a parent/carer can’t attend.
  • The place of learning and parent/carer with the child/young person (if able) should look at ways to manage future behaviour e.g., additional SEN Support, Individual Behaviour Plan etc.

Challenging a fixed term suspension

A parent, carer or young person can write to the Chair of governors or the Trustees to request a meeting for a suspension from half a day (which is what a lunchtime suspension is classed as) up to 5 days. The governing body may agree but they do not have to.

For Fixed Term Suspensions that are 5 and a half days up to 15 days there must be a meeting with the governing body to review the headteachers decision if the parent, carer or young person requests one. This meeting must be held within 50 school days.

And for Fixed Term Suspensions that are over 15 days there must be a meeting with the governing body to review the headteachers decision, this meeting must be held within 15 school days.

What a Governing Body must do

The governing body must consider the reinstatement of a suspended child or young person within 15 school days of receiving notice of the suspension if:

  • If the suspension period would bring the child or young person total number of ‘school’ days of suspension to more than 15 in a term
  • The exclusion is permanent
  • It would result in a child or young person missing a public examination or national curriculum test.