Agenda item

6.1

Kaltun Elmi questioned what help and advice was provided to children and their families from BME communities, particularly those for whom English was their second language, who had received either a fixed- term exclusion or had been permanently excluded, both in terms of general support and in connection with the appeals process. Ms Elmi also stated that having Governing Bodies that challenged decisions made regarding their respective schools was very important, and queried the level of training offered to Governors to ensure that they were able to undertake their role effectively.

6.2

Tim Bowman, Head of Inclusion and Targeted Services, stated that the Local Authority would always offer support, including the provision of interpretation where required, to pupils and families from BME communities. He agreed that it was very important that governance in schools was strong, and that Governors were confident to challenge, and that parents understood the process and its implications. It was noted that this may have training implications.