Suspensions

What is a suspension?

School suspensions, also known as fixed-term or fixed-period exclusions, are the temporary removal of a student from school for a specified period due to serious breaches of school rules or persistent misbehaviour.

The exclusion is for a set number of days, or even part of a day, with a maximum limit of 45 school days in a single academic year. Schools must provide work for the first five school days, from the sixth day onwards, alternative full-time education must be arranged by the school, especially for longer suspensions.

The role of the Designated Teacher and Social Worker

The Designated Teacher (DT) and Social Worker should act as advocates for children in care and support families of children previously in care. They should take lead responsibility for helping other professionals to understand the difficulties affecting our cohorts and how this can impact on engagement with school.

The DT should work with the Team Around the Child to promote positive behaviour and develop a strategic overview to support the child or young person to engage with education. The DT and/or school should notify the Virtual School Head or Adviser when a child in care has received a suspension.

The roles and responsibilities of the Virtual School to support children and young people when suspensions occur

• Monitor suspension data weekly for all children in care
• Provide advice and challenge to schools and professionals
• Support Personal Education Plan (PEP) meetings with a suspension focus
• Offer training and resources to schools and carers

What does the law say?

The Virtual School has statutory duties to monitor the attendance, progress and attainment of children in care and ensure they have a Personal Education Plan (PEP) which is the education element of their care plan.

There are two key pieces of legislation:

• Promoting the education of looked-after and previously looked-after children (GOV.UK)
• Designated teacher for looked-after and previously looked-after children (GOV.UK)

What support is available?

• Education settings and localities have named Advisers within the Virtual School Team
• The Virtual School's Engagement Team for concerns about specific children and young people
• For previously in care children and those in kinship care with a Special Guardianship Order or Child Arrangements Order (regardless of previously in care status) we have a tiered offer of support with details available on our website
• For children with a Social Worker, our work is predominantly strategic however, we can offer support with opportunities and training for Trauma and Attachment Aware Practice
• We have an offer which is published annually and can be found on our website. This includes a comprehensive professional development programme.

Key contacts

• General enquiries - [email protected] or 01603 303323
• Lynsey Ward, Engagement Strategic Lead Adviser - [email protected]