Potential exclusion of SEN child (ADHD) help

[Schoolhelp2025]

My child is currently going through as ADHD assessment and the expectation is the final meeting next week is a formality. Its a private assessment. Behaviour is an issue. The school have advised there is a suspension trigger of 15 days per term and anything above that goes to the governors for review to formally exclude. I am petrified of formal exclusion and the fall out. My question is, the term seems to be the full school year and not Autumn, Spring and Summer. He had had two suspensions over two of those terms and I had thought it was a fresh start but the second they have advised its all covered over the school year. I can only find term referred to but not the definition. Does anyone know the policy? There is a lot going on and it’s isolating so I am trying to get my head around it all.

It will help you to read the statutory guidance I linked to in my first post so you know the actual rules. Rather than what the school is telling you.

If DS has been suspended for more than 15 days in a term, the governors can reinstate the pupil. See paragraph 100 in the document I linked to.

If DS has been suspended for more than 5 days to 15 days in a term, the governors can reinstate a pupil if the parent makes representations. See paragraph 101 in the document I linked to.

If DS has been suspended for less than 5 days in a term, the governors cannot direct a reinstatement. See paragraph 106 in the document I linked to.

You might find some of the guides and templates/suggested wording on here helpful.

The school must take reasonable steps to provide work for the first 5 days of a suspension. Although if the total number of days suspended is more than 5 (including from separate suspensions) full-time education should be provided as soon as possible and must be provided from the 6th day.

Thanks, I have done and used quite a bit of it in there referring ti the clauses. I have asked around the 15 days and term, highlighted gaps in the policy. Highlighted no school work set and the clause in it around that. I left a message for school today on that but no call. The main objective I have put is for them to review the broader picture, make sure adjustments are in place support with a referral, document it all in a eha and pupil passport and consider sen in future misbehaviour incidents. Not sure what I’ll get back. I don’t want the school to be annoyed I’ve done this as I have highlighted some shortcomings but also positives too

@BrightYellowTrain you seem super knowledgeable on all this, hopefully not through bad experience but its a minefield and I appreciate your input

Amazing, actually, we were trying to find the 15 day per term rule, this helps. a lot.