Primary School Exclusions

[BundleBrent]

Can anyone tell me the score on school exclusions. At a meeting about DS (6) at his school, they mentioned if he doesn't stop hurting other children at playtime then they will exclude him. I quite agree that he shouldn't hurt anyone and am desperatly trying to understand why he does this (not an issue elsewhere) but think if he gets a sniff of being off school then it will be a self fullfilling prophesy.

Do I have any rights/what notice can they give/can they exclude forever

Help please - desperate!

HOw does he 'hurt' other children/ What example can they give? Does he do this outside school? What other methods of teaching him self control have they tried?

They need to be looking at what happens just before your ds hurts the other children. They are far more likely to resolve the problem if they know what is actually causing it. It may be, for example, that he could benefit from help with social skills at school.

This information about exclusion is on a Gloucestershire site but the rules should be pretty similar all over the country. Alternatively you can do a direct search for your own county.

Hi, firstly what are the school doing to help your DS and address the problem? Exclusion (especially for a 6 year old) should be the last resort. Have they put in place School Action, has the school SENCO (special education needs co-ordinator) become involved (behavioural problems are counted as special needs), and considered asking for an assessment by an educational pshycologist? If you son is having behavioural problems to the point they are threatning an exlusion they should be doing all of these things.

If it comes to the point where they do exlude your DS, then this should only be for a short fixed term. Probably a day or two in the first instance. They can start the exclusion immediately (if you are available to collect) or the next day. They can also impose a lunch time exclusion where you have to collect DS for the lunch hour and then take him back. They can also do what is called an internal exclusion where they separate him from the rest of the class but keep him in school.

The process of a permanent exclusion (where they exclude forever) is a very long drawn out process. It involves lots of meetings, paperwork and (unless you DS did something really really serious) would be the cumulation of many incidents.

I've become abit of an expert on all of this as DS1 has special need and has been exluded from school quite a few times. please feel free to contact me if you want a chat. The special needs board is also full of people who have some great advice about this sort of thing!!!!!

This is all fab - thank you. It seems to be a playtime issue. His behaviour in lessons is poor, but although they are concerned about this they are dropping exclusions into the conversation about the "hurting". From what I hear it is aggression if others don't follow what he thinks they should - and play fighting which they all do but he doesn't know when to stop! The SENCO is ivolved but she is keener on the inside classroom things. They seem not to have many strategies for the playtimes - and of course he is now a bit of a scapegoat (which they do recognise).
I have asked via GP for clinical psyc appointment - a year to wait. Can school ask for ed psyc or do I need to?
He is okay at home to be honest - a bit of fighting with DD (9) but she is the same so I think normal.

School can ask for ed psych, also if you are concerned about Sn you can rewuest a referral to a Paediatrician- might be a shorter wait? It was aped who diagnosed both our chidlren with their disorders.

Sounds like my son tbh, also high risk for exclusion. What do they ahve in palce? DS1 has a home school book, and a time oput zone (the library) he can retreat to, as well as a named contact in the yard staff as he hates approaching people he doesn't know well. He ahs ASD but that doesn't mean these strategies wouldn't workj for anyone who struggles in the playground environment, and tell the SENCO that her role extends to ALL areas of thes chool day and not just lessons! And amke it clear that unless they do their part you will take action if they exclude (exclusion reasonable for a child who is a danger and all else ahs failed, but a lack of strategies in the yard leading to exclusion is cruel imo)

Good luck!

I am motivated to come up with some thoughts myself and go back to school and offer them. I like to idea of the time output zone and a specific contact. I know teachers are busy and they want kids who fir into a box of normality. But I think if someone were to show genuine interest and like him (and others like him) they would respond better.

DD tells me that other boys in the school wind him up to chase and hurt them, this then gets him into more trouble. He doesn't understand they are kinda laughing at him not with him.

At least I know I am not alone - but when the stares come across the playground from the cliques of mums it is hard to remember!

You are definitely not alone- lots of us get the stares from cliquey Mums and the chasing thing really gets up my nose!

You need to find out exactly what they are doing to help your ds with his behaviour. I would write down all the strategies that you think would work with your ds and send them in. Is he on the sen register for his behaviour?