Reintegration guide for school leaders

What is the purpose of the meeting?

Schools will approach reintegration meetings using slightly different approaches. School leaders should be clear on the purpose of the meeting and what they are hoping to achieve. A reintegration meeting should welcome the CYP back into school as well as re-establish behaviour expectations and/or agree / review a positive behaviour support plan.

Depending on the reason for suspension, there may be additional meetings held between CYPs / staff to offer a restorative intervention if the behaviour was harmful towards others. Restorative approaches focus on repairing harm and relationships by getting all involved to explain their perspective in order to find a resolution that works for everyone.

When should this be held?

This will be dependent on your school policy / timetable and the CYP's family commitments but best practice would be to hold the reintegration meeting the day before the CYP is expected to return to school, this ensures the CYP's first day back is a complete 'fresh start'.

Who should attend?

The meeting should be carried out by someone who has a positive relationship with the CYP and/or their family to maximise the chances of a successful meeting.

Someone with a good understanding of the situation that led to the suspension will need to make an informed decision about who should be invited and why. Depending on your school's approach, the meeting might be attended by the CYP, the family, relevant school staff (discussion will likely depend on nuances of details so having someone there who understands the facts about what happened is important) and any relevant support agencies.

Because of the reflective nature of these meetings, it can be a useful time to bring everyone around the child together to discuss the current needs of the CYP and what support would be most beneficial. If necessary, services like LanguageLine or INTRAN can be used to facilitate interpretation and translation during these discussions.

It is important to note that a CYP should not be prevented from returning to a mainstream classroom if parents are unable or unwilling to attend a reintegration meeting. The Department for Education's statutory guidance on exclusions specifies that CYPs cannot be suspended or excluded because of their failure to meet specific conditions before they are reinstated, including the refusal to attend a reintegration meeting.

If parents do not attend, ensure they are sent a copy of the notes from the reintegration meeting as well as the reintegration plan with details of how they can access any support. If the family have EAL then ensure that these notes are translated into the appropriate language.

Supporting families at the meeting

When considering how to approach and speak with parents, the following are important points to consider:

• Be aware that the CYP and / or their family may be feeling anxious about returning to school and this could impact on how they behave during the reintegration meeting. Thank the family for coming in and acknowledge that this may be difficult for them.
• Consider the tone you are communicating in - start positively. Reassure families that you are there to support and want the best for their child and for them to be successful at school and that this is an opportunity to discuss new or adaptations to support.
• Ensure any additional needs / considerations around the family are taken into account e.g. if the family have EAL then interpreters may need to be utilised, if the family have caring responsibilities then the timing / location of the meeting may need to be adapted, if the family have had a particular negative experience with school then a more 'neutral' location for the meeting may need to be considered.
• Emphasise that the meeting is an opportunity to work together. School and family should, as much as possible, display a united front and communicate a commonality of approach to the CYP. A practical consideration for this can be to discuss and set targets with family before presenting and discussing these with the CYP.
• There is a space in this meeting for focusing on the positives that the CYP brings to school. Consider how this meeting can remind family and the CYP of their successes through a strength-based approach which focuses on what the future can look like.

What should be covered?

Following a consistent model for reintegration meetings can ensure each CYP has a similar experience on their return to school, parents/carers will know what to expect and staff will feel more confident to carry out the meeting as intended. This should form part of your behaviour policy / exclusion policy.

The specific focus of the discussion will be determined by your school's approach to the meeting. Possible topics could include:

Getting back to class

This part of the reintegration should not be overlooked. Some CYPs may feel more comfortable to go straight back to class with peers, some may not and some may need additional support before doing so - consider individual needs, what that CYP will cope best with and adapt as necessary.

If the CYP does not go back to class straight away, it is important this is not seen as an extension of the suspension or a sanction and instead is viewed as a supportive measure appropriate for that CYP e.g. the CYP may work 1-1 for the morning with pastoral staff on self-regulation strategies or self-esteem activities.

Tools

• This meeting template (Word doc, 926 KB) can be used to ensure key points are covered during the reintegration meeting.
• Model PBSP and planning guidance
• Roots and fruits