Fixed Period Exclusion

Who decides to issue an exclusion?

Only the Head teacher or acting head has the power to exclude a child but this must be upheld by the governors to be effective. You should be informed of the exclusion as soon as possible (usually by telephone). You should also be given a letter explaining the reasons for the exclusion, the date your child will return to school and your right to make representations without delay. It will also inform you of your right to attend a meeting where the school governors have a duty to consider the exclusion.

Schools should set and mark work for the first 5 days and must also provide suitable full time alternative education from and including the 6th day of an exclusion.

Unofficial exclusions which ask you to keep your child at home to “cool off” without excluding them are not lawful, even if you agree to it. Children should also not be asked to stay at home due to the school not being able to provide for their special educational needs. If your school raises concerns about meeting your child’s needs, you may wish to talk to the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). It may also be useful to see our factsheet on SEN Support and EHC Assessments.