Friend's ds was suspended today

[skinnycow]

My friend was telephoned by the school today after lunch and asked to go collect her ds - he is not to return until after the holiday. Admittedly this is only a couple of days. He can be a bit cheeky but is in no way the worst in the class. He also has CF which obviously doesnt affect his behaviour as such but consequently is currently on steroids which does. The school know this as it has happened before. His crimes today were : being cheeky to a supply teacher and calling her fat (he denies this but says he did laugh at another boy being cheeky), lifting hte table onto 2 legs and dropping it again, talking when not supposed to be etc. No real serious crimes IMO especially considering there are many children in the school who have been violent towards others and escaped punishment. Anyway have any views on whether they think this is acceptable? Incidentally they've also said they wont put it on his record which I would have thought they'd have to.

I think disrupting the class and stopping others from learning should be delt with seriously but i dont think its fair to treat one badly behaved child differently from the rest - its not fair that other escaped punishment. But its also not fair on the other children to have there lessons disrupted either iyswim.

I know thats a pretty black and white vwei point though and i havent taken into consideration his medicine as i dont know anything about it so a pretty useless poast really

Skinnycow, My ds has had several exclusion, long story. This is either offical or not the head must send a letter home as well as contact your friend to remove her son. They also have to explain to the LEA why her ds is not at school.

If this is not an offical exclusion that he must return to school eihter way this will go on record either for being absent from school or an exclusion. With an exclusion you have the right to appeal to the governors tell her to contact ACE which are detailed in the offical exclusion letter. This is unacceptable that they are excluding him unoffically. Also contact the LEA as the EWO would have to know if her son isn't at school. This would be different if the head said go home and reflect and apologised the next day, but not to come to school til after the holiday is an exclusion and cannot happen like this. larsxx keep us posted!

How old is he?

If he is suffering from personality changes due to the steriods this needs to be ssorted out by the GP.

SC, Lars is correct about the 'unofficial' thing. But as it is only one day until the hols then the school can do this on a 'stay home tomorrow and reflect on your behaviour' type of thing. Many schools do this to avoid making exclusion official. Often parents prefer it this way.
Agree with MB, she must see her GP if the behaviour is being caused by his medication.

well the latest is:

the head was offering more of a "chill out and reflect" day it would appear but the class teacher decided to tell all the children that the 2 boys had been suspended. She sent home his spellings in an unsealed envelope via his little sister with the word "Excluded" on todays list (as obivously he wouldnt be doing them). When friend dropped her dd at school this morning she saw the other excluded child and conseqiently went in to see the head. He agreed that her ds should be allowed into school today (confused emoticon). She had a proper meeting with him today at lunchtime and he confessed he had "forgotten" to tell the other mother not to bring her child to school, The other child's crimes were generally the same as friend's child but in addition telling hte teacher to fuck off and showing his middle finger . Anyway my friend has spoken to the LEA who said that they should have informed them immemdiately of the childrens' exclusion.

Hi skinnycow, How on earth can you forget to say to the other boy's mother not to come to school today. But told your friend quite clearly not to bring her ds to school.

What did the LEA suggest to your friend?

Larsxx

well my friend didnt get to speak to teh Exclusion Officer but only a member of her team. She is to speak with the EO on Monday for more specific advice.

The LEA have told her briefly that as soon as a child is excluded the school need to notify the LEA at once - something they failed to do. However, in addition to all the above, when my friend had a meeting with the head today she expressed her concern that the whole class had been informed of her son's exclusion - the head tried to deny that the teacher informed the class in this regard but she produced the list of spelling results which was sent home yesterday via his little sister and obviously he couldnt argue with the fact that there in black and white was the word "excluded". However, it has since been said by various children in the class that it was in fact the Head who informed everyone of their exclusion despite saying it was a chill out day and unoffical to my friend. HOnestly, the school's crap.

Skinnycow, Your friend can write to the governors and complain this is the first line of action. But in my own experience they do all stick together word of warning, although the governors at your friend's sxhool can see this as not following the correct procedure. I think the LEA and EWO is the best route for your friend it also tells the school that you are not a push over that excepts their word as correct.
I really cannot believe the school did this it seems rather silly on their part. Maybe they feel the exclusion isn't really warranted and another form of punishment could have been used, don't you think?
Usually heads excludes when there are breaches of behaviour poicy and staff or pupils are at risk.
Have the school excluded other children in the past? Larssxx

actually Lars my friend IS a govenor - we have discussed her approaching the Chair but agree that he will simply ask for the Head's version and agree with him.

They have never in "15 years of teaching had to suspend anyone" or so it was told to the class yesterday.

I think my friend's ds is a bit of a problem in school but by no means the worst - and definitely more of a follower than insitigator. I think the exclusion for him was unwarranted but in light of the other boy's actions, (F off and finger up) I think he should have been suspended.

Skinnycow, I still think your friend should complain and that the correct procedure was not followed, which is still unacceptable.
The fact that your friend is a governor usually helps, but even if your friends ds is a problem at school, there are still certain procedures schools have to follow and the head has to follow this.

The fact he told all the school about the exclusions is just toatally unacceptable. It appears they are trying to make an example of her ds.

As I said about the governors, it can be rather a clicky relationship the chair and head.

I really don't like the sound of this head , do you feel it's personal against your ds and friend? larsxx

well, as I said, her ds can be a bit disruptive along with about another 8 or so boys in teh class. He normally gets on quite well with my friend but I think because it's deemed the worst class in the school, they have hte deputy head (known for strictness) as their teacher. However, because she is out of hte class for 3 days per week they tend to have a selection of supply teachers so no real consistency. I think the deputy head/class teacher is struggling to be honest which is shame because she is a good teacher normally and has the benefit of actually having her own kids (although now grown up).

Skinnycow, I do hope your friend get this resolved either way as this still seem a little unfair towards her ds under the cirumstances.

Your comment about the school not being very good, does your friend feel like this too?

It must make your friend loose confidence in the school and the fact she is a governor, will she remaon a governor. I know myself as I used to be a parent governor and you give up alot of your spare time for this. larsxx