Page 5645 - Week 13 - Thursday, 17 November 2011

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Schools—student suspensions
(Question No 1894)

Ms Hunter asked the Minister for Education and Training, upon notice, on 27 October 2011:

(1) What number of students in ACT schools were suspended for (a) one day, (b) two to four days (inclusive), (c) five to 14 days (inclusive) and (d) 15 days or longer for the period (i) 1 February to 31 December 2010 and (ii) 1 February to 30 September 2011.

(2) In the case of any suspension in 2010 and 2011 for five days or longer, was the Department of Education and Training advised of the suspension.

(3) For the period 1 February to 30 September 2011 (a) how many of the (i) students suspended and (ii) parents or carers of the students suspended were engaged with the Suspension Support Team; (b) what support was given to students suspended who were not referred to the Suspension Support Team; and (c) how many of the (i) students suspended and (ii) parents or carers of the students suspended did not take up the offer to attend the Suspension Support Team.

Mr Barr: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

1) The number of students suspended in ACT Public Schools from

1 February to 31 December 2010 and from 1 February to 30 September 2011 is as follows:

Please note that the same student may appear in more than one category as they may have been suspended several times with differing lengths of suspension.

2) Yes.

3) Between 1 February to 30 September 2011:

(a) (i) 26 students actively engaged with the Suspension Support Team

(ii) 25 parents/carers actively engaged with the Suspension Support Team

(b) Support provided to students who were not referred to the Suspension Support Team involved developing a plan in the suspension re-entry meeting to support the student engage in schooling. The plan is based on individual student need and can include referral to counselling, identifying a staff mentor, development of an individual learning plan to address learning difficulties, restructuring a student’s learning program, a behaviour monitoring contract, referral to a community agency e.g. respite care, and referral to a small group to work on social skills or anger management.

(c) (i) two students who were referred to the Suspension Support Team did not actively engage.

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