Chapter Contents
Behaviour at School
All maintained schools should have a written policy setting out the standards of behaviour they expect. This policy should be made available to parents and pupils and outline what the school will do if a child’s behaviour falls below these standards.
Schools have a legal right to impose reasonable sanctions if a pupil misbehaves. Sanctions a school might use include:
- A reprimand.
- A letter to parents or carers.
- Removal from a class or group.
- Confiscating something belonging to your child if it is inappropriate for school (for example, a mobile phone or music player).
- Detention.
- Exclusion.
Exclusion
Only head teachers have the power to exclude pupils from school. This can only happen if they have seriously broken school rules or if their behaviour is likely to cause harm to themselves or others. Above all, such exclusions must be lawful, reasonable and fair. Exclusion may be:
- Fixed term. This will be a specified number of days, usually of between one to five days.
- Permanent. The child will not return to the school and therefore an alternative school or provision must be identified.
If a young person is excluded, the head teacher must inform the carer and the social worker straight away, and advise the virtual school head. After that, they must put in writing:
- The reasons for the exclusion, the number of days if it is fixed term, or that it is permanent
- The carer’s and the social worker’s right to make representations about the exclusion to the governing body, and how to go about this.
Many looked after children have unmet social and emotional needs and, as a group, are at higher risk of exclusion. Schools are therefore expected to proactively support foster carers and the local authority in doing everything possible to avoid excluding a looked after child. Any exclusion must be made only as a last resort and in the most exceptional circumstances. Before excluding, schools should first consider alternative options for supporting the looked after child or young person. In addition, no looked after child should be excluded from a school without discussion with the local authority to ensure that there is suitable alternative provision available elsewhere.
For fixed-term exclusions of up to five days, schools must take ‘reasonable steps to set and mark work’. Such work should be accessible and achievable, considering it will be done outside the classroom without teacher support.
Statutory guidance on school exclusions
The Government’s statutory guidance states that head teachers should as far as possible avoid excluding any pupil who is a looked after child. Two alternatives should be considered to avoid exclusion:
- A ‘managed move’, meaning that the head teacher negotiates with another school accessible to the child to take them and give them a new start. Managed moves are not, however, allowed for children with an EHCP.
- Attendance at alternative provision
The Virtual School Head should be involved directly in negotiations to ensure the child’s best interests are met.
View the guidance on the GOV.UK website, or by clicking here.
Read an article in our Knowledge Hub about exclusion.
High Levels of Absence
Some children may truant from school, and this is an unauthorised absence. Other children may refuse to go to school for emotional and mental health reasons, and schools may seek to manage this with a flexible or reduced timetable, and additional support.
Schools are responsible for improving attendance and reducing persistent absence. They must therefore have clear policies, practice and systems in place to deal with attendance issues. They should also employ a range of interventions and support for individual pupils whose absence is causing concern. There is an emphasis upon partnership with parents/carers and the involvement of other agencies in order to re-engage young people and integrate them back into school. Schools should pay particular attention to the persistent absence of a looked after child and be aware that children in care are a high risk group.
Read in our Knowledge Hub about some of the reasons why children might refuse school, and how to help a child back to school.
