Model Letter One

Information to be used with ‘Model Letter Five’

The Governors Disciplinary Meeting has taken place to consider the decision made by the head teacher to permanently exclude your child.

The important points of this letter are:

 The governing body has carefully considered the evidence provided by the head teacher and the evidence provided by yourself;  The governing body has decided to uphold the head teachers decision to permanently exclude your child;  The reasons for upholding the exclusion are: o o o o

What are my rights?  You have a right to apply for an Independent Review Panel to look at your child’s exclusion;  If you wish for your child’s exclusion to be reviewed by an Independent Review Panel you must write to the clerk of the Independent Review Panel at Wallasey Town Hall;  You must say what your reasons are for applying for an Independent Review Panel;  You must lodge your appeal within 15 school days of receiving the letter telling you the governors decision (this letter). The appeal will not go ahead if you do not lodge your appeal within 15 school days;  The Independent Review Panel will be held within 15 school days from the date you lodge your appeal (write to the clerk to the Independent Review Panel);  You have a right to attend the Independent Review Panel;  Your child may attend the Independent Review Panel if you wish;  You have the right to bring a friend or somebody to represent you to the meeting;  You have the right to request an interpreter attends the meeting;  You have the right for a ‘Special Educational Needs Expert’ to attend the meeting even if your child’s school does not agree with you that your child has special educational needs;  You will not have to pay for a Special Educational Needs Expert to attend the meeting;  If your child has a disability and you think that disability discrimination has occurred you can also appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal, Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road, Darlington. DL3 9DN;  If you feel that another type of discrimination has occurred you have the right to make a claim to the County Court;

What powers do the Independent Review Panel Have? The independent Review Panel can:  Agree with the governing body and uphold your child’s permanent exclusion;  Request that the governing body reconsiders your child’s exclusion;  Direct the governing body to reconsider your child’s exclusion

When the panel directs the governing body to reconsider their decision to uphold the exclusion the panel will order a financial readjustment of £4,000 if your child is not reinstated within ten school days; You may find it useful to read the guidance of exclusions: www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/behaviour/ exclusion

What does a Special Needs Expert do? The SEN expert will provide expert advice on how the special educational need could have had affected the exclusion The SEN expert will look at the school’s policies and practices, that are about special educational needs, are reasonable, legal procedurally fair.

For further advise you may wish to contact Alison Grimshaw, Behaviour Support Manager at Wirral Local Authority, Birkenhead Town Hall, Mortimer Street, Birkenhead, CH41 5EU 0151 666 5275, [email protected]

If your child has special educational needs you may receive support from Parent Partnership. 08448801500 extension 249