Suspension
Also called Suspension (formerly fixed-period exclusion). That is the name used in diagnostic manuals and on most official paperwork.
A suspension is when a school sends a pupil home for a set number of days. It used to be called a fixed-term exclusion, and you may still hear that name.
Applies in England
A suspension is temporary: your child stays on the school roll and comes back on a set date. The school must tell you the reason and the number of days in writing, and you can ask the governors to review the decision.
Two duties are worth knowing. The school must set and mark work from the first day of a suspension. And if a suspension runs past five school days, full-time education must be arranged somewhere from day six. A pupil can be suspended for up to 45 school days in a school year.
If your child is suspended repeatedly, that is a signal the current support is not working, not proof your child is bad. It is a good moment to ask the school, in writing, what support is in place and whether an assessment of their needs is due.
Where this comes from
- School suspensions and permanent exclusions: statutory guidance , Department for Education. Checked 2026-08-14.
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