Permanent exclusion is a very serious matter. Only a school's headteacher can permanently exclude a pupil or a named deputy if the headteacher is out of school.

A headteacher may decide to permanently exclude a pupil only when he/she is sure that:

• the pupil has seriously breached the school's discipline policy
• if the pupil remains in school, it would seriously harm the education or welfare of the pupil or others in the school.

The Education Welfare and Young Peoples Support Service (YPSS) and the Behaviour Support Services works with both schools and families in trying to prevent children being excluded from school and should exclusion take place, reintegrating children back into full time education.