DECEMBER 2011

A consultation on revised statutory guidance and regulations for exclusions from schools and pupil referral units in England

Launch Date: Friday 16 December 2011

Closing Date: Friday 17 February 2012

This consultation is to gather views on the Department for Education's revised exclusion guidance document and regulations relating to exclusions. The full document can be viewed here

Under the Education Act 2011, independent appeal panels will be replaced by independent review panels from September 2012. If requested by a parent, local authorities will be required to arrange an independent review panel to consider the decision of a governing body or management committee to uphold a permanent exclusion from a maintained school or pupil referral unit.

Parents will be able to request the presence of a SEN expert at the independent review panel to advise the panel on how special educational needs could be relevant to the exclusion. Parents will have this right, irrespective of whether a school recognises that a child has SEN.

Green Paper Implementation  

The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) has just launched a section on its website about the Government Green Paper: Support and Aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability. It includes information on the SEND local area pathfinders (of which Surrey is one) and the key organisations and agencies helping to implement the vision.