Walsall Virtual School is dedicated to advocating for children in care and their educational journey, ensuring they have the best opportunities to succeed in their learning. As corporate parents, it is our shared responsibility to collaborate with education providers to monitor, support, and challenge, with the expectation that suspensions are avoided whenever possible and permanent exclusion is used only as a last resort.

Children in care often face unique challenges and barriers to learning due to their circumstances and life experiences, which can manifest as challenging behaviours. Trauma-informed practices and approaches are essential for education providers to support these children effectively, recognising their vulnerabilities and promoting their well-being and mental health. Suspensions are an ineffective way of addressing challenging behaviours for many children in care, as they do not address the underlying causes stemming from trauma.

It is crucial for all parties to work collaboratively to reduce fixed-term suspensions and ensure that Walsall Virtual School is involved in any cases where a child is at risk of being suspended

The DfE advises that it is important to design and apply your school's behaviour policies with the past experiences of looked-after and previously looked-after children in mind, since past trauma can significantly impact on their behaviour in school  (DfE February 2018). Head teachers, designated teachers and governing bodies must have regard to the Department's statutory guidance on Exclusions from maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England (DfE September 2017) and in line with that guidance, exclusion should be seen as a last resort for any child in or previously in care.

If a child or young person is at risk of suspension or exclusion, please contact the virtual school so  support can be put in place to help prevent the need for exclusion.