Exclusions

D Hyde
[FOI #10921 email]

24/04/2009

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST

FOI Request Number : 1279
Description : Permanent Exclusion Policy

Dear D Hyde,

I acknowledge your request for information received on 24/04/2009 08:24.

Your request is being considered and you will receive the information requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject to the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third party.

If appropriate, the information may be provided in paper copy, normal font size. If you require alternative formats, e.g. language, audio, large print, etc. then please let me know.

For your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions which may prevent release of the information you have requested. There will be an assessment and if any of the exemption categories apply then the information will not be released. You will be informed if this is the case, including your rights of appeal.

If the information you request contains reference to a third party then they may be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not to release the information to you. You will be informed if this is the case.

There may a fee payable for this information. This will be considered and you will be informed if a fee is payable. In this event the fee must be paid before the information is processed and released. The 20 working day time limit for responses is suspended until receipt of the payment.

If you have any queries or concerns then please contact the Business Partner(Information Management) at Leicestershire County Council, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8TG, telephone 0116 305 8250, e-mail [Leicestershire County Council request email].

Further information is also available from the Information Commissioner at: Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

If you wish to contact Leicestershire County Council concerning this request please use the request number above as a reference.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Williams

D Hyde
[FOI #10921 email]

28/04/2009

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST

FOI Request Number :1279
Description :Permanent Exclusion Policy

Dear D Hyde

I can confirm that the information requested is held by Leicestershire County Council. Your request for information has now been considered and the information is as follows.

You asked: "Is it acceptable/legal, for a permanent exclusion of a pupil from a school to be rescinded and for the pupil to then be removed from the school's roll and never be allowed to return to that school. If so, how long is the deadline for the pupil to be returned to another mainstream school?"

If a child is excluded and an appeal logged with the independent panel, it is possible for them to make a "third way" decision. This means that the panel have not upheld the school's decision to exclude - however, they feel that the relationship between the school and child has broken down to such an extent that it would not be a positive step for the child to return to the school. The next step would then be to re-integrate / apply for another school.

There is no legal deadline for returning a pupil to mainstream schooling. If the pupil is applying for a new school, this may be an immediate step. If a re-integration is decided upon, the Pupil Referral Unit may wish to provide support packages to a receiving school. The time required would be dependent on whether the child was ready to return to mainstream education.

Most of the content provided by Leicestershire County Council as a result of a request for information will be subject to copyright protection. In most cases the copyright will be owned by Leicestershire County Council. We will notify you by marking the content where Leicestershire County Council does not own the copyright.

You may use the content for non-commercial research purposes. Any other re-use, e.g. publication or supply to the public, will require permission from the copyright holder.

For content where copyright belongs to a third party (i.e. not Leicestershire County Council), you would need to apply to the copyright holder.

If you are unhappy with the way Leicestershire County Council has handled your request you may ask for an internal review. You should contact the Business Partner(Information Management) at Leicestershire County Council, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8TG, telephone 0116 305 8250, e-mail [Leicestershire County Council request email] if you wish to complain quoting the FOI Request Number.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you also have a right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF 
Telephone:   01625 545 700
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Andrew Williams