Example of Exclusion Letters

Example 1. FIXED TERM 1- 6 DAYS

Dear [parent/carer/learner’s name]

I am writing to inform you of my decision to exclude [learner’s name/you] for a fixed term of [period of exclusion]. This means that [learner’s name/you] will not be allowed in school for the period of the exclusion which began on [date].

I realise that this exclusion may well be upsetting for you and your family, but the decision to exclude [learner’s name/you] has not been taken lightly. [learner’s name/you] has/have been excluded for this fixed term because [reason for exclusion].

The school will continue to set work for [learner’s name/you] during the period of his/her/your exclusion [insert details of arrangements that are in place for this]. Please ensure that any work set by the school is completed and returned to us for marking. [For learners over compulsory school age insert the following]. As you have been excluded from the school you should arrange for someone to return the work to us on your behalf.

You [and learner’s name where learner is aged less than 11] have the right to make representations to the school governors’ pupil discipline committee. If you wish to make representations please contact [name of contact] on/at [contact details: address, phone number, email], as soon as possible. While the discipline committee has no power to direct reinstatement, they must consider any representations you make and may place a copy of their findings on your child’s/your school record.

You also have the right to see a copy of [learner’s name/you] school record. Due to confidentiality restrictions, you will need to notify me in writing if you wish to be supplied with a copy of [learner’s name/you] school record. I will be happy to supply you with a copy if you request it. There may be a charge for photocopying.

A parent or carer also has the right to make a claim of disability discrimination to the Education Tribunal for Wales (ETW) if they think the exclusion is because of a disability their child has. The address to which claims should be sent is:

Education Tribunal for Wales, Welsh Tribunals Unit, PO Box 100, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 9BW/Formal Appeal Letter

You may also want to contact xxxxxxxxxxxxxx – xxxxxxxxxxxxx Schools Inclusion Officer on xxxxxxxxx or by e-mail at xxxxxxxxxxxxxx – who may be able to advise you. You could also contact SNAP Wales (0808 801 0608 or 01286 675547 / www.snapcymru.org).

[learner’s name/your] exclusion expires on [date] and we expect [learner’s name/you] to be back in school on [date] at [time].

Yours sincerely

Example 2 FIXED TERM 6 - 15 DAYS

Dear [parent/carer/learner’s name]

The school will continue to set work for [learner’s name/you] during the period of their/your exclusion [insert details of arrangements that are in place for this]. Please ensure that any work set by the school is completed and returned to us for marking. [For learners over compulsory school age insert the following] As you have been excluded from the school you should arrange for someone to return the work to us on your behalf.

You have the right to request a meeting of the school governors’ discipline committee at which you [and learner’s name where learner is aged less than 11] may make representations and the decision to exclude can be reviewed. As the length of the exclusion is more than 5 school days (or equivalent) the committee must meet if you request it to do so. The latest date the committee can meet is [date – no later than 50 school days from the date the committee is notified]. [Note: where the learner would lose the opportunity to take a public examination the committee must (so far as is practical for them to do so) meet before the date of the examination]. If you wish to make representations to the committee please contact [name of contact] on/at [contact details: address, phone number, email], as soon as possible. You may be accompanied by a friend or representative.

You also have the right to see a copy of [learner’s name/your] school record. Due to confidentiality restrictions, you will need to notify me in writing if you wish to be supplied with a copy of [learner’s name/your] school record. I will be happy to supply you with a copy if you request it. There may be a charge for photocopying.

A parent or carer also has the right to make a claim of disability discrimination to the Education Tribunal for Wales (ETW) if they think that the exclusion is because of a disability their child has. The address to which claims should be sent is:

Education Tribunal for Wales, Welsh Tribunals Unit, PO Box 100, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 9BW

You [and learner’s name] are requested to attend a reintegration interview with me [alternatively, specify the name of another staff member] at [place] on [date] at [time]. If that is not convenient, please contact the school before [date within the next 10 days] to arrange a suitable alternative date and time. The purpose of the reintegration interview is to discuss how best your child’s/your return to school can be managed. You should be aware that your/your parent’s/your carer’s failure to attend a reintegration interview will be a factor taken into account by a court when deciding, on any future application, whether to impose a parenting order on you/your parent/your carer.

You may also want to contact xxxxxxxxxxx – xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Schools Inclusion Officer on xxxxxxxxxxx or by e-mail at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx – who may be able to advise you. You could also contact SNAP Wales (0808 801 0608 or 01286 675547 / www.snapcymru.org).

[learner’s name/your] exclusion expires on [date] and we expect [learner’s name/you] to be back in school on [date] at [time].

Yours sincerely

Example 3. FIXED TERM 15 DAYS OR MORE

Dear [parent/carer/learner’s name]

I realise that this exclusion may well be upsetting for you and your family, but the decision to exclude [learner’s name/you] has not been taken lightly. [learner’s name/you] has been excluded for this fixed term because [reason for exclusion].

Alternative education other than setting work will be provided for [learner’s name/you] if the exclusion has not been overturned within 15 days. A [school’s maintaining local authority] local authority representative will contact you to discuss this.

As the length of the exclusion is more than 15 school days (or equivalent) the discipline committee must automatically meet to consider the exclusion. At the review meeting you may make representations to the committee if you wish to do so. The latest date the committee can meet is [date – no later than 15 school days from the date the discipline committee is notified]. If you wish to make representations to the committee please contact [name of contact] on/at [contact details: address, phone number, email], as soon as possible. You will, whether you choose to make representations or not, be notified by the Clerk to the committee of the time, date and location of the meeting. You may be accompanied by a friend or representative.

Education Tribunal for Wales, Welsh Tribunals Unit, PO Box 100, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 9BW.

You may also want to contact XXXXXXXXXXXXX – XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXSchools Inclusion Officer on XXXXXXXXXXor by e-mail at XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX – who may be able to advise you. You could also contact SNAP Wales (0808 801 0608 or 01286 675547 / www.snapcymru.org).

[learner’s name/your] exclusion expires on [date] and we expect [learner’s name/you] to be back in school on [date] at [time].

Yours sincerely

Example 4. PERMANENT EXCLUSION

Dear Parent/carer

I regret to inform you of my decision to exclude [learner’s name/you] permanently from XX/XX/XX. This means that XXXXXX will not be allowed back to Ysgol _______________ unless reinstated by the school governors’ discipline committee or by an appeal panel.

I realise that this exclusion may well be upsetting for you and your family, but the the decision to exclude (learner’s name) has not been taken lightly. xxxxxxxx has been excluded for a serious breach of our behaviour policy. The incident involved ...

Alternative education other than setting work will be provided for xxxxxxxxxxx if the exclusion has not been overturned within 15 days. A local authority representative will contact you to discuss this.

As this is a permanent exclusion, the pupil discipline committee will meet to consider the exclusion. At the review meeting you xxxxxxxxxxxxxx may make representations to the committee if you wish to do so. The discipline committee has the power to reinstate xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx immediately or from a specified date, or alternatively, has the power to uphold the exclusion in which case you may appeal to an independent appeals panel. The latest date the committee can meet is [date – no later than 15 school days from the date the committee is notified]. If you wish to make representations to the committee, please contact [name of contact] on/at [contact details: address, phone number, email] as soon as possible. You may be accompanied by a friend or representative. You will, whether you choose to make representations or not, be notified by the Clerk to the committee of the time, date and location of the meeting.

You also have the right to see a copy of xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx school record. Due to confidentiality restrictions, you will need to notify me in writing if you wish to be supplied with a copy of xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx school record. I will be happy to supply you with a copy if you request it. There may be a charge for photocopying.

Yours sincerely