The Education and Inspections Act, 2006, gives parents the legal responsibility for the supervision of their child during exclusion. The law also says that your child should continue his or her education whilst excluded.
If your child is excluded for any period up to 5 school days, a single period of over 5 days or permanently, you must ensure that your child stays at home during normal school hours, in the first 5 days of any exclusion.
This new ruling does not apply to lunchtime exclusions.
Q. Should my child be out of the house whilst he or she is excluded?
A. No. Your child must not be found in a public place without reasonable justification. It doesn’t matter if the child is with you or another adult.
Q. What happens if my child is seen in a public place during this period?
A. Failure to comply with this requirement will mean that you are breaking the law. If your child is seen present in a public place you could be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £50 which you must pay within 28 days. If the penalty notice remains unpaid, this might increase to £100. After 42 days, you could be prosecuted and have to appear in court.
Q. Will the school set work?
A. The school should set work and you must make suitable arrangements with the school for work to be collected and returned for marking during the initial five day period of the exclusion.
Q. Does this ruling apply for any length of exclusion?
A. It applies for any period of exclusion up to 5 days or more.
Q. What happens if the exclusion is more than 5 days?
A. If the fixed term exclusion is for over 5 days, the school must provide the child with full time education from day six. The Head teacher will inform you of the arrangements for this in writing.
Q. What happens after the exclusion?
A. The Head teacher will invite you and your child to a reintegration interview following each exclusion.
Q. When will the interview take place?
A. The interview will normally take place on the day the child returns to school, but this could be shortly before or shortly after your child is due to return to school.
Q. Will my child be allowed back in school if I cannot attend the interview?
A. You should do your best to attend the interview at the appointed time. Once the exclusion has come to an end, your child will be allowed back in school.
Q. What happens if the exclusion is Permanent?
A. The Local Authority must provide full time education from day 6 of a permanent exclusion. You will be notified of the arrangements. An Education Liaison Officer will visit you to explain the process.