Suspension from school
If your child has been excluded (a suspension), you can get help by reading the government's guide.
Download the guidance:
A suspension means your child has to stay at home and cannot go to school for a set number of days.
Sometimes, a child can be suspended more than once. All together, a child cannot be suspended for more than 45 school days in one year.
Schools should try to help children with their behaviour and only use suspension when they really have to.
Schools should not:
- send your child home for disciplinary reasons without a suspension
- suspend because they can’t meet your child’s special educational needs
- suspend your child for something they think your child might do later
- suspend because of your actions as parents
How does the suspension process work?
Only the headteacher (or the most senior teacher in their absence) can suspend a pupil.
If your child is suspended, the school will call you as soon as they can. They will also send you a letter to explain:
- why your child has been suspended
- your rights to appeal
- when your child can return to school
The school will also tell the County Council about the suspension.
Can I appeal?
Suspension of 1–5 days in one term
The Governing Board must consider any comments you make about the suspension. However, it does not have the power to decide whether to reinstate the pupil. They don’t have to arrange a meeting with you, but they may agree if you request it.
Suspension of 6–15 days in one term
You can ask the Governing Board to arrange a meeting to review the head teacher’s decision to suspend your child. They will only meet if you request it. They must consider your comments and have the power to overturn the exclusion.
Suspensions of 16 days or more in one term
The Governing Board must hold a meeting to review the head teacher’s decision within 50 days of the suspension. We advise you to attend.
Any Governing Board decision is final.
What happens to my child while they are out of school?
For the first five days, the school must give your child work to do at home and mark it when finished.
During these five days, your child should not be out in public places (like shops or on buses) unless there is a good reason. If your child is seen in public during this time, you could get a penalty notice.
If your child is suspended for more than five days, starting from the sixth day, the school must arrange full-time education somewhere else for your child.