SCHOOL EXCLUSION
The Scottish Government is working with partners to develop new guidance on exclusions, developing existing guidance which is provided in ‘Included, Engaged and Involved: part 1’ (see below for more). The thrust of the new guidance will be on inclusion and working positively and creatively with children and young people for whom exclusions have been an experience in the past, or remain a concern. PINS will seek to engage our membership in current debates and developments.
If you are involved in creative responses to reducing or tackling school exclusion let us know.
Here are just a few of the latest resources and sources of information to support your work.
Out of site, out of mind?
This HMIE report presents an overview of provision for children and young people with behavioural needs in off-site bases and special schools. Evidence shows that the quality of young people’s learning experiences is currently too variable. For more go HERE
Further fall in school exclusions – but differences across the country
The number of pupil exclusions in Scottish schools has fallen for the second year running, according to national statistics. The likelihood of being excluded is higher for those pupils who live in areas of greater deprivation, who have additional support needs or who are looked after by the local authority
For more go here HERE
A guide for parents about school attendance
This is a comprehensive booklet for parents and carers which explains legal responsibilities regarding children’s attendance at school. It also explains the responsibilities which schools and local education authorities have in making sure children are happy, safe and doing their best at school. The booklet describes the support a child is entitled to if school attendance is a problem and lists a number of support agencies as well.
Read the pdf HERE
Positive Intervention for Pupils Who Struggle at School
By Helen Sonnet, 2009. This book offers methods of intervention which are “designed for those children who have been through all the standard interventions, to no avail, and who are now in danger of being excluded.”
Read about or order this book HERE
Morag Steven, Director of Common Ground Mediation, talks about additional support needs mediation between families, schools and other education services
Download Portable Document Format (PDF) HERE
Holly Milne, Development Manager of BusinessLab, talks about supporting families to increase pupil attendance and reduce exclusion.
Download Portable Document Format (PDF) HERE
Escape from Exclusion
by Brian Marris and Tina Rae
A 15 session programme with an emotionally literate approach to supporting excluded and disaffected students aged 7-16.
Read about or order this book from Amazon HERE
Building and Restoring Respectful Relationships in Schools: A Guide to Restorative Practice by Richard Hendry
Restorative Practice helps disruptive pupils to take responsibility for their actions, understand the consequences of their behaviour and apologise to others. Through a whole-school approach school teachers and managers can help all children build healthy and respectful relationships with peers and teachers. Building and Restoring Respectful Relationships in Schools is a practical resource to help relieve the pressure on schools and education services by leading them to plan and implement restorative approaches in their day-to-day work.
Take me to more information HERE
Included, Engaged and Involved: Part 1 Attendance in Scottish Schools.
This document provides guidance on the management of attendance and absence in Scottish schools.
Take me to this document HERE
Scottish school exclusion trends
The Poverty Site is a website supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which includes statistics about children excluded from schools in Scotland and shows trends using graphs.
Take me to the site HERE
Excluded From School: Complex Discourse and Psychological Perspectives
Christopher Arnold, Jane Yeomans, Mike Solomon and Sarah Simpson
In this book four psychologists explore the experiences of people who have been involved with exclusion from school: the child, the family, the excluding school and the receiving unit. There is discussion about theory, reflection on the harm that exclusion can do and suggestions for new approaches to managing difficult behaviour in secondary schools.
Take me to the publisher HERE
Preventing Very Young Children from being Excluded from School
This report was published by Ofsted and looks at reasons children under 7 are excluded from schools in England and the ways in which some schools manage to avoid using exclusion. Different system but interesting findings!
Take me to the report HERE