Suspension

Suspensions

The headteacher can suspend a pupil for up to a maximum of 45 school days in a school year. Most suspensions are for periods of up to 5 school days, but they can be for longer. A pupil may be suspended for one or more periods. Headteachers decide about the length of each exclusion or suspension.

Pupils can sometimes be suspended at lunchtimes only. They each count as half a day of suspension. Parents will be expected to collect and supervise the pupil. Usually lunchtime suspensions should not be for more than five school days. Pupils who are entitled to receive free school meals should still receive this entitlement. You should have received a letter from your child's headteacher telling you the reasons for the suspension, the length of it (in school days) and the date and time when your child must return to school. If your child has been suspended from school for more than one day, the school will provide work for you to collect and return for marking. Details of these arrangements will be in the letter from the school.

If your child is receiving repeated suspensions, it can be useful to arrange a meeting with school to discuss your child's behaviour and to identify if they have any unmet needs. Schools should try to identify these and intervene early, to try to prevent more suspensions.

If you decide to arrange a meeting with school, you could ask to meet with your child's teacher, the special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) and possibly the headteacher.