About
Schools must provide suitable full-time provision for all pupils. A part-time timetable means the child only attends school for part of the day.
Somerset Council has guidelines about the laws on children’s education rights. All children have the right to suitable, full-time education. Schools must follow these rules and make sure no pupils are excluded illegally, or prevented from accessing education. You can find a summary below. For full details, read the protocol for schools. You can find it in the More information section.
Schools should only use part-time timetables in exceptional circumstances, and when it helps the child’s learning or health needs.
Situations a child can be sent home
Sending a child home informally is not allowed, even if parents agree. This includes “cooling-off” periods or using part-time timetables for behaviour.
Schools can only send a child home if:
- they are formally suspended or excluded
- they are too unwell to stay in school or
- they are not expected in school as part of a planned and agreed part-time timetable.
Starting a part-time timetable
Schools must work with the child, their parent carers and appropriate support services. This support should try to identify and understand barriers to attendance and learning. This may be through a Pastoral Support Plan, Early Help Assessment or Education, Health and Care plan Annual Review. Reducing the education provision should only happen in exceptional circumstances.
Before starting a part-time timetable, schools should use the checklist in Appendix B of the Protocol. The checklist is for use during the planning and review process. It helps make sure the timetable suitable and legal.
Effective use of a part-time timetable
Part-time timetables need:
- parent consent and, where needed, agreement from the Statutory SEND team, social worker or Virtual School
- clear objectives and a reintegration plan
- regular reviews (at least every two weeks)
- a set end date (usually no longer than six weeks)
If all of these are not in place, the part-time timetable may not be legal.
If a child is not in school or another setting, they should get enough work to do at home during these hours. The work should match their level and needs. Teachers should check the work often and give feedback to the child.
Specific situations
Children with medical conditions
For children with medical conditions that cause them to miss school often, schools should look into ways for them to get a full-time education. Schools should be flexible and find ways to offer alternative options that mean the child can continue to learn. Schools must inform the Local Authority if a child misses school for fifteen days due to illness. If a school cannot meet a child’s needs because of their health issues, schools should seek help from Somerset Council through its Section 19 Policy.
Children with Education Health and Care plans
Schools should seek approval of the Statutory SEND team before considering a part-time timetable. Any significant changes must be put in their provision plan. A part-time timetable can only be used following an Annual Review or Early Annual Review.
Children with a social worker
Schools must talk to the family’s social worker before considering a part-time timetable. Part-time timetables should be agreed and planned at a Core Group or Child in Need Meeting. In these meetings, people agree on what changes the child needs. A part-time timetable also needs a risk assessment. This checks that it is safe to reduce the child’s time in school. The school must contact the child every day, even if they are not in school. This is to make sure they are safe. The school must record this contact on the child’s safeguarding record.
Children Looked After
Schools must talk to the Virtual School before considering a part-time timetable. A part-time timetable should only be agreed and planned following a review of the child’s Personal Education Plan. The school must contact the child every day, even if they are not in school. This is to make sure they are safe. The school must record this contact on the child’s safeguarding record.
More information
Read the full guidance for schools, including:
- a checklist for planning and reviewing part-time timetables
- expectations for different groups of pupils
- attendance codes for part-time timetables
