“My child is at risk of permanent exclusion or has been permanently excluded. I need help with what to do next.”

It seems nothing you do stops your child getting into trouble at school and the system is kicking you when you most need support and help. The trust which underpins your relationship with the school may feel like it is slipping away and the school is becoming less sympathetic and more formal in their tone.

Hertfordshire County Council’s Integration Team will provide advice on the exclusion process and government guidance, but have to remain neutral. The Children’s Legal Centre (CLC) will provide focused advice, but only hear your side of the story.

To be able to fully support your child, you may benefit from advice that will balance the Headteacher’s perspective, your perspective and that provided by Government guidance, which will be the basis for CLC advice. With extensive experience of both permanent exclusions and independent appeals, we can review the school’s paperwork and provide:

• An insight into areas where the school could be / have been more supportive of your child’s needs.
• An understanding of the alternatives to permanent exclusion that the school can / could have explored.
• A list of questions to ask the school to explore ways in which they may better support your child or follow government guidance.
• Advice on areas in which there may be procedural weaknesses in the school’s case.
• Advice on how best to argue your child’s cause to try and salvage their school place or find an alternative to permanent exclusion.

Before getting independent help, we strongly advise that you contact all relevant Hertfordshire County Council professionals (see Who to ask for help at the County Council). If your child has special needs, please consult our Special Needs section.

Hayley has been at risk of permanent exclusion for quite a while. Without the right advice to force the school to support Hayley’s ADHD properly, I am convinced we would have faced permanent exclusion long ago.

Katherine, mother of Hayley (Year 10)