School Exclusions and Placement Breakdown

When a child’s school placement begins to break down, decisions can be made quickly and the relationship between the family and school can deteriorate just as fast.

I help parents respond strategically to suspensions, threatened permanent exclusion, placement breakdown and permanent exclusion. The aim is to establish what has happened, identify any unmet needs or procedural failures, and present a clear case before important decisions become irreversible.

Enquire about school exclusions and placement breakdown

When you may need support

I can help where:

  • your child has been suspended repeatedly;

  • the school is suggesting that the placement can no longer continue;

  • you are being encouraged to remove your child or consider elective home education;

  • reduced timetables, internal isolation or informal arrangements are being used repeatedly;

  • reasonable adjustments or agreed SEN provision have not been implemented;

  • your child is at risk of permanent exclusion;

  • a permanent exclusion has already been issued;

  • you need to prepare for a governing board meeting; or

  • the governing board has upheld the exclusion and you are considering an Independent Review Panel.

Looking beyond the incident

An exclusion case should not be considered solely by asking whether an incident occurred.

The wider circumstances may include:

  • previously unidentified or unmet special educational needs;

  • failures to deliver provision in an EHCP;

  • disability and reasonable-adjustment issues;

  • inconsistent application of the school’s behaviour policy;

  • whether appropriate support and preventative measures were attempted;

  • safeguarding, bullying, anxiety or emotionally based school avoidance;

  • the child’s understanding of events;

  • the proportionality of the school’s response; and

  • whether the decision-making process was fair and properly documented.

I review the available evidence and turn it into a focused case addressing the issues the school, governors or review panel must consider.

How I can help

Depending on the stage reached, my work can include:

  • reviewing the exclusion letter, behaviour records and school correspondence;

  • examining the school’s behaviour and exclusion policies;

  • identifying procedural, factual and additional-needs issues;

  • reviewing EHCPs, professional reports and evidence of unmet provision;

  • preparing a chronology of the events leading to the exclusion;

  • drafting written representations for the school or governing board;

  • preparing questions and points that need to be addressed at the meeting;

  • preparing an Independent Review Panel application;

  • considering whether an SEN expert should be requested;

  • preparing you and your child for the meeting; and

  • providing remote representation at the governing board or review panel hearing.

Services and Fees

Suspension or placement-breakdown representations — £1,295

This service is intended for families who need to respond before a placement reaches permanent exclusion.

It includes:

  • review of the key documents and correspondence;

  • identification of the immediate risks and disputed issues;

  • consideration of unmet needs, support and reasonable adjustments;

  • preparation of focused written representations; and

  • clear recommendations about the action required to stabilise the placement or secure an appropriate alternative.

This may include requesting an urgent review, additional support, changes to provision, a planned transition or a properly managed alternative placement.

Permanent exclusion governing board review — £2,495

A permanent exclusion must be reviewed by the school’s governing board. This is the first formal opportunity to challenge the headteacher’s decision and seek reinstatement.

The service includes:

  • detailed review of the exclusion decision and supporting evidence;

  • assessment of whether the decision was lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair;

  • identification of relevant SEND, disability and unmet-provision issues;

  • preparation of the written case for reinstatement;

  • preparation for the governing board meeting; and

  • remote attendance and representation at one governing board review.

The governing board can uphold the exclusion or direct that the child is reinstated.

Independent Review Panel — £2,995

If the governing board upholds a permanent exclusion, an application can be made for an Independent Review Panel.

An Independent Review Panel does not simply rehear the case. The application must identify why the governing board’s decision was flawed when judged against the relevant legal and procedural tests.

The service includes:

  • review of the headteacher’s and governing board’s decisions;

  • analysis of the governing board minutes and reasons;

  • preparation of the Independent Review Panel application;

  • detailed written submissions;

  • consideration of whether an SEN expert should attend;

  • preparation for the panel hearing; and

  • remote attendance and representation at one Independent Review Panel.

The panel may uphold the decision, recommend that the governing board reconsiders it, or quash the decision and direct the governing board to reconsider.

Complete permanent-exclusion service — £4,995

This covers both the governing-board and Independent Review Panel stages where both become necessary.

It provides continuity throughout the case, avoiding the need to reconstruct the evidence and strategy after the governing board decision.

Separate disability-discrimination proceedings, judicial review, external legal advice and representation at any additional hearing are not included.


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Important deadlines

Exclusion cases move quickly.

A governing board must normally meet within 15 school days to consider a permanent exclusion. If the governing board refuses to reinstate the child, the application for an Independent Review Panel must normally be submitted within 15 school days of receiving written notice of its decision.

You should therefore seek support as soon as the exclusion letter or governing board decision is received.

What I will need

To assess the case, I will usually ask for:

  • the suspension or permanent-exclusion letter;

  • the school’s account of the incident;

  • previous suspension records;

  • relevant school correspondence;

  • the current EHCP, if there is one;

  • professional reports and assessments;

  • behaviour plans, risk assessments or pastoral-support plans;

  • evidence of support that was promised or requested;

  • the school’s behaviour policy; and

  • the governing board decision and minutes, if that stage has already taken place.

Do not wait until every document has been obtained before making contact where a deadline is approaching.

Tell me about your situation

You do not need to explain everything perfectly.

The information below allows me to understand the decision, the stage your case has reached and whether a deadline requires immediate attention.

Before you begin
There is no charge to enquire and no telephone call is required. You do not need to upload the full evidence bundle at this stage. If documents are needed, I will request them securely after reviewing your enquiry.

Enquire about annual review support

What happens after you submit

I reply personally by email within one working day. My reply will confirm whether the matter falls within my placement work, whether I have capacity, what stage the case has reached and what I recommend as the next paid service. If I cannot help, I will tell you clearly.

Prefer email? hello@johnpaulinglis.co.uk

Documents are handled securely and confidentially.

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