Introduction

Buckinghamshire Council guidance is written to be referred to alongside the DfE Suspension and Permanent Exclusion Guidance August 2024: DfE Suspension and Permanent Exclusion Guidance

It is important for schools to consider the following guidance:

• Behaviour in Schools - Advice for headteachers and school staff (publishing.service.gov.uk)
• Keeping children safe in education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Mental health and behaviour in schools (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Links to other relevant supplementary guidance can be found in ‘Annex B’ on page 77 of the statutory guidance here:  DfE Suspension and Permanent Exclusion Guidance

Terms

The term ‘suspension’ is a reference to what is described in the legislation as an exclusion for a fixed period.

The term ‘headteacher’ in this document means the headteacher of a maintained school, the teacher in charge at a PRU and the principal of an academy.

The term ‘governing board’ means the governing board of a maintained school, the management committee of a PRU and academy trust.

Update to previous guidance

This Buckinghamshire Council guidance has been updated to reflect the specific changes made to the legislation governing the disciplinary school suspension and permanent exclusion process.

• A technical update has been made to the DfE guidance in 2024 to reflect the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024. The School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024 (legislation.gov.uk)
  
  
• Further information is set out in DfE Suspension and Permanent Exclusion Guidance