About Exclusions
Manchester schools, Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) and the council work in close partnership to offer pupils and families early help to reduce the need for exclusion. Exclusions have been reducing year on year but there will still be circumstances where a head teacher considers an exclusion to be appropriate.
Schools have a legal duty under the Equality Act 2010/ DDA not to discriminate against disabled pupils by excluding them from school because of behaviour which is related to their disability. Schools must make reasonable adjustments to policies and practices so that a disabled pupil can participate in education at school and are not disadvantaged because of their disability.
What do we mean by being excluded?
Only a head teacher can exclude a pupil and must tell the pupil’s parent or carer, in writing, how long the exclusion is for and the reasons for it. (For permanent exclusions or longer fixed term exclusions the school governing body will also consider the head teacher’s decision to exclude). While they are excluded the pupil is not allowed to attend their school, enter the school grounds or use school transport services.
It is important that pupils continue to have access to learning during their exclusion so that they continue to make progress and achieve. Schools should provide work for the first 5 school days of any exclusion. Parents and carers are responsible for ensuring that their children are supervised during school hours on these days and complete the work which has been set. This will ensure that they will have the best chance to keep up with their learning and be less at risk of becoming involved in anti-social activities. From the sixth day the school or Pupil Referral Unit must inform the parent or carer what arrangements have been made for full time supervised education until the end of the exclusion period.