School Governors’ duties towards children with SEN (SEN and exclusion)

School Governors’ duties towards children with SEN

SEN and exclusion

Official figures show that exclusion is largely a problem affecting children with SEN who are nine times more likely to be permanently excluded than other children (government stats for the academic year 2008/09). Governing Bodies can play an important role in reducing this by ensuring that their schoolsanticipate the needs of children with SEN and disabilities, adequately resource their support, ensure that staff receive training and monitor the levels of exclusion and other sanctions which are used in relation to this group. Governing Bodies can consider the support and strategies available to help vulnerable groups of pupils when they review the school‘s SEN and behaviour policies.

The discipline committee

Governing bodies generally choose to set up a committee to hear exclusion cases, sometimes establishing a pool of governors on whom they may call. At least three members must sit. The GB must be informed immediately of all exclusions which total more than five school days or ten lunchtimes in any one term or which deny a pupil the opportunity to take a public exam. Shorter exclusions must be reported to the governing body once a term.

The full report for School governors understand their legal duties to children with SEN from IPSEA can be downloaded from here
http://tinyurl.com/governors-duties-SEN

IPSEA is a registered charity offering free and independent advice to parents of children with special educational needs in England and Wales on:

• local authorities’ legal duties to assess and provide for children with special educational needs;
• exclusions of children with special needs/disabilities;
• actions or inaction by local authorities and/or schools which discriminate against children with disabilities

Website http://www.ipsea.org.uk/ Twitter @IPSEAcharity
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ipsea.page