Permanent exclusion

Permanent exclusion information, advice and guidance.

The Government supports headteachers in using exclusion as a sanction, where it is warranted. However, the decision to permanently exclude a child from school should only be taken in response to:

  • a serious breach or persistent breach of the school's behaviour policy
  • allowing the child to remain in school would seriously harm the education or welfare of the pupil or others

The decision to exclude must be lawful, reasonable and fair. Schools have a statutory duty not to discriminate against pupils based on protected characteristics, such as disability or race.

Access to learning

Pupils must 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 or 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.

The Education Access Team are responsible for providing provision on the sixth day for permanently excluded pupils.

Re-admission of excluded pupils

All permanent exclusions must be considered by the Governing Board. Parents or carers have the right to make representations at this meeting.

If the Governing Board refuses readmission of an excluded pupil, parents can request for this decision to be reviewed by an Independent Review Panel.

From September 2022 when Headteachers suspend or permanently exclude a pupil they must, without delay:

All placements at Essex Pupil Referral Units will be overseen by the Education Access Team.

Useful documents and links from DfE