Can a school place a pupil on a part-time timetable?

There’s some info about part time timetables on page 19 of the school attendance guidance School attendance: guidance for schools – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and it says the following:

As a rule, no. All pupils of compulsory school age are entitled to a full-time education. In very exceptional circumstances there may be a need for a temporary part-time timetable to meet a pupil’s individual needs. For example where a medical condition prevents a pupil from attending full-time education and a part-time timetable is considered as part of a re-integration package. A part-time timetable must not be treated as a long-term solution. Any pastoral support programme or other agreement must have a time limit by which point the pupil is expected to attend full-time or be provided with alternative provision. In agreeing to a part-time timetable a school has agreed to a pupil being absent from school for part of the week or day and therefore must record it as authorised absence.

Parents should not feel forced into agreeing with a part timetable if they do not wish to.  Please see our FAQ on alternative provision.

Use of a part-time timetable may be discriminatory. This will depend on whether the part-time timetable is a proportionate way of achieving a legitimate aim that the school may have in using it.

IPSEA have lots of resources on their website for children who have medical needs, special educational needs or a disability.

• If your child is on a part-time timetable due to their medical needs, please see our page on illness.
• If your child is on a part-time timetable due to their special educational needs, please see our pages on how school should be helping and EHC needs assessments and plans.
• For more information on part-time timetables generally, please see our pages on informal exclusions, disability discrimination, and making a complaint about a school.