Therapy Exclusion

Therapy

Fact file
l According to figures from the
Department for Education, children
with autism are four times more
likely to be excluded from school
than those without special needs.
l Children may be excluded for up
to 45 days a year, though not
necessarily continuously. They can
also be excluded permanently.
l Children may be excluded for
regular breaches of a school’s
behaviour policy or for a one-off
incident. Examples of these
breaches could include verbal or
physical assault, use of drugs or
alcohol, damage to property or
racist abuse.
l Parents who are worried about
their child’s exclusion can ask to
see a copy of the school’s
behaviour policy or write to the
board of governors explaining
their concerns.

and he was happy. But after a

year he was moved again as the
unit had a waiting list. Now with a
statement, he was set to join
another school with full-time
support from a teaching assistant
– but the place was withdrawn
before he started as the TA had
become ill.
Desperate, the family sent Josh
to two further private schools,
which again dismissed him when

Rejected
they couldn’t meet his needs.

Devastating effect
Now aged 12, Josh has not been
to school for more than a year. His
local CAHMS has at last given a
temporary diagnosis of ‘Atypical
Autism’, and the family are hoping
he will soon be offered a place at
It happens every day Josh Poole was an anxious child.
He was slow to talk and was given
at his new school the staff were
unable to cope with his meltdowns,
he was lashing out. When his mum
was called to take him home one
Excluded from
school: it’s four
Searching on the internet
themselves, they were convinced
either a new behavioural unit or a
soon-to-be-opened school for kids
and often it’s unlawful. to hiding under tables and chewing dragging him out from under the day and found him so distressed times as likely that he was on the spectrum. with autism.
his nails. Nevertheless, he started table and pinning him down when he had to be sedated, she to happen to Finally, at the third school, the The situation has had a
Fiona McNeill looks at the primary school happily enough. removed him from that school, too. a child with headmaster acknowledged the devastating effect on the family,
Within weeks, however, he was autism than problem. “He told us that Josh says grandma. “Josh thinks
way schools frequently coming home with bruises. Staff were No diagnosis to one without needed help, but that the only way nobody wants him,” she says. “All
“He wanted friends but didn’t fit unable to cope Although Josh, who lives in north special needs to achieve that was to exclude him his life he has wanted to be not
exclude children with in,” grandma Paula Poole explains. Somerset, was exhibiting autistic and get him a statement,” Poole just a vet, but a professor teaching
with his meltdowns,
autism – leaving their
“It turned out that another boy was behaviour he did not have a continues. “Because the school other people how to be vets. He’s
getting other children to gang up dragging him out from diagnosis. An earlier referral to had other serious issues to deal extremely bright, so he could do it,

families in turmoil
on him and kick him.” Child and Adolescent Mental with at the time, they didn’t have the but I worry that he’s missed so
When Josh wouldn’t go back to under the table and Health Services (CAHMS) had resources to help him themselves.” much schooling.
the school, the family were forced pinning him down” gone astray and the family had Josh went on to a special unit, “At times, the situation has
to look for a place elsewhere. But never been offered an appointment. where staff built up his confidence caused family arguments,” she

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 Therapy Exclusion
Therapy

‘Most mums are doing brilliantly… What they can and can’t do: the
yet they feel they’re not doing enough’ Schools can be
too quick to shut
legal issues over excluding pupils
Wendy Warne is the manager makes you feel even more
of family services at Burgess isolated.” she adds. out children with Solicitors Douglas Silas and Joshua Garrod on
Autistic Trust, a charity “The sad thing is that most
autism simply because the rights of the school – and of the parents
supporting autistic people and mums are doing brilliantly and
their families in south-east trying so hard to support their they’re not sure what A decision to exclude a pupil time for all parties.
London. She is also a qualified child, yet they feel they’re not must always be taken by the The governing body must
counsellor, offering carers the doing enough.”
else to do” Douglas Silas
headteacher of a school or the then either uphold the
chance to talk through their These emotional pressures principal of an academy, whether exclusion or direct reinstatement,
concerns about coping with an can eventually lead to physical can make adjustments to avoid the it is permanent or for a fixed either immediately or on a
autistic child. problems, Warne cautions. anxiety that causes a meltdown in term. Fixed-term exclusions must particular date.
She says: “For mums, “I can’t stress enough how the first place,” she says. “Schools not exceed 45 days for the Parents can challenge a
especially, the emotional important it is for parents to also need to adapt their behaviour school year. An ‘informal’ decision to exclude. First,
stress can start as soon as take a break now and again policies for autistic children. exclusion is unlawful, even if the parents can request that the LA/
you get the feeling that and step away from the Sometimes the way to be fair is not parents have agreed to it. academy set up an independent
something isn’t quite ‘right’ problems at home,” she says. to treat everyone the same.” When a headteacher or
with your child – maybe even “You can’t take care of your principal excludes a pupil, they
before they get a diagnosis. children if you’re not taking Hugely disruptive Joshua Garrod must inform parents of: Parents can
“Maybe they’re not hitting care of yourself. Exercise is a Exclusions are hugely disruptive to l The period of exclusion and
their milestones, like walking fantastic way of improving family life, particularly for single reasons;
request that
or talking, the same as other your mood. And talk to people parents who have to work, Moore l Their right to make the local authority/
children, so already you start in the same situation – find a says. The children themselves are representations to the school’s
to feel isolated because your local support group.” likely to fall behind in their studies governing body; and
academy set up an
child is ‘different’. Burgess Autistic Trust hopes and lose confidence, with the l How those representations independent review
“As children get older, you to start running wellbeing isolation reinforcing their feelings of should be made.
might find you have to avoid classes for parents and carers being ‘different’. For permanent or fixed-term
panel to examine
certain situations because of over the coming months “In a survey we conducted last exclusions greater than five days the decision”
your child’s behaviour, which (see Contacts, opposite). year, nearly everyone said that the or exclusions resulting in a pupil
one thing that makes a difference missing a public examination or
to an autistic child’s education is test, the headteacher/principal review panel (IRP) to examine the
adds, “and I’ve had to give up too quick to shut out children with having a teacher who understands must notify the governing body. decision. Parents must lodge a
work to help out. Both his mum autism simply because they’re not the condition,” Moore says. “The request within 15 school days of
and I have IBS [irritable bowel sure what else to do. majority of autistic children are the decision. The LA must then
syndrome] and I also have Catriona Moore, education educated in mainstream schools. An ‘informal’ arrange a convenient date for all
rheumatoid arthritis, which is policy officer with the National We’re asking the Government to parties to meet before a panel of
worsened by stress. I feel like I’ve Autistic Society, agrees that the make autism a standard part of
exclusion is three to five people.
aged ten years.” problem is widespread. “There are teacher training.” unlawful, even if Department of Education
Josh’s story of multiple school also ‘informal exclusions’, where a guidance states that it is unlawful
exclusions is an extreme example child might be put on a part-time CONTACTS
the parents have to exclude or increase the
of the problems that too many timetable or sent home to cool l Burgess Autistic Trust: agreed to it” severity of exclusion for non-
children with autism face. off,” she explains. www.burgessautistictrust.org.uk disciplinary reasons. The
Exclusion, where a child is barred, l The School Exclusion Project following are unlawful reasons:
either permanently or for a fixed Adjustments offers free legal advice for Within 15 days of receiving the l The pupil has additional
amount of time, is meant to be the “It’s difficult to know the exact families appealing against their notice, the governing body must needs/a disability;
last resort in managing difficult figures for these because they child’s permanent exclusion, consider reinstatement if: l The pupil’s academic
behaviour. Yet, as Josh’s don’t have to be formally especially where the child has l The exclusion is permanent; attainment/ability;
experience shows, schools can be documented, but they accounted special needs. l It is a fixed-term exclusion l The actions of a pupil’s
for 12 per cent of our helpline calls www.schoolexclusionproject.com which brings the number of days parents; or
last year. But informal exclusions l The charity Ambitious About in a term to greater than15; or l The failure of a pupil to meet
The one thing are unlawful,” she stresses. Autism campaigns for better l It results in the pupil missing a specific conditions before
“If there’s a reason to exclude a provision for children with autism public examination or test. reinstatement.
that makes a child, the school should follow to reduce the number of The governing body must This is not an exhaustive list
difference to an autistic proper procedures.” exclusions. www. arrange a meeting to discuss the and any decision must also not
The root of all these types of ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk exclusion with the parents, the discriminate against the pupil, or
child’s education is exclusion, Moore says, is a l The National Autistic Society runs head teacher/principal and a parents may make a claim to the
having a teacher shocking lack of awareness of a school exclusions service. representative from the local First-tier Tribunal [Special
ASD behaviour in some schools. E-mail schoolexclusions@nas. authority (LA), at a convenient Educational Needs & Disability].
who understands “If teachers have a good org.uk or call the helpline on 0808
the condition” understanding of autism and the 800 4104, Mon - Thurs 10am-4pm, l Douglas Silas and Joshua Garrod work for Douglas Silas Solicitors,
needs of individual children, they Catriona Moore: there’s a “shocking lack of awareness” Fri 9am-3pm www.SpecialEducationalNeeds.co.uk

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