Key announcements

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Exclusions and suspensions

A number of children in care experience or have experienced instability, loss and all have experienced separation.

This instability and the results of attachment and trauma difficulty can affect young peoples behaviour; their ability to regulate their emotions; and it can take a long time for them to trust the adult relationships around them.

As such, it is important as part of their recovery from these experiences and it an important safeguarding factor preventing further risk of rejection, marginalization; or exploitation; that wherever possible children and young people in care are enabled to remain with a school, even if they make mistakes or their behaviour warrants exclusion (in line with the schools behaviour policy).

It is therefore apolicy widely accepted for Birmingham children in care that schools and education settings do not permanently exclude themand that schools seek advice and support, so alternative actions and solutions can be agreed.

If a child has been excluded or there is a risk of it, you must contact Birmingham Virtual School by email immediately.

Our first step will be to review the PEP or EPP with you and the school or education and training provider to make sure the right procedures have been followed and the right support has been put in place.

Further support will then be agreed to avoid continued escalation and possible risk of permanent exclusion.

Refer to Birmingham Virtual School’s guidance for schools and settings.

New statutory guidance

In July 2022 (and further updated in September 2022), the DfE published new statutory guidance on suspension and permanent exclusions.

Listed below are some of the key changes and the impact they will have for schools from September 2022.

Some key changes

  • A fixed term exclusion is now defined as a suspension. Exclusions refer to permanent exclusions
  • It is important that children in care remain in a school even if their behaviour has suggested otherwise. The Birmingham Virtual School are here to help if difficulties arise
  • The Local Authority must now be notified of all suspensions and exclusions, including those where the total has not exceeded five school days in the current term
  • Where the pupil is looked after, or previously looked after, or has a social worker, the Virtual School Head (VSH) and/or their social worker must be notified in writing of all suspensions and exclusions.

Find more information about suspensions and exclusions


Page last updated: 18 September 2023

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