Included, engaged and involved part 2 guidance refresh working group minutes: April 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Scottish Government
• National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT)
• Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS)
• Glasgow University
• The Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection/ VHTN
• School Leaders Scotland (SLS)
• Association of Headteachers and Deputes Scotland (AHDS)
• National Social, Emotional and Behavioural Needs Network (SEBN)
• Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
• Education Scotland (Community Learning)
• Education Scotland (Schools)
• Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA)

Apologies

• Connect
• Includem
• Association of Directors of Education Scotland (ADES)
• Society of Local Authority Lawyers and Administrators in Scotland (SOLAR)
• Association of Scottish Principal Educational Psychologists (ASPEP)

Items and actions

Welcome and introductions

The chair welcomed members and noted apologies. Members confirmed that they were content to approve the minutes from the previous meeting of the group.

Action: SG to publish minutes on SG website.

Draft of Included, engaged and involved part 2

A draft of the revised guidance was circulated in advance of the meeting for consideration. The updated draft reflected suggestions made by the group and wider stakeholders on the structure of the document and links to the existing guidance framework. Updates also included suggested sections to be streamlined or removed, further detail added to the section on individual considerations and the suggested addition of a flowchart. Points raised by members included:

Structure of the guidance

• the suggestion of the removal of guiding principles was welcomed by members to allow for key points to be explored with more nuance and context within the main text
• members agreed that, with regard to exclusion legislation, the use of footnotes and signposting throughout the guidance was sufficient and appropriate
• it was suggested that the full glossary be removed with essential definitions throughout in text and footnotes where appropriate – members agreed with this approach, however it was suggested that some partners may find a full glossary helpful. It was suggested that an overarching glossary to support all national relationships and behaviour guidance may be a useful tool to be considered in the future
• it was suggested that a brief factsheet to summarise the guidance for parents and carers may be helpful

Annexes - Checklists and Flowchart

• it was suggested that the checklists are helpful to give reassurance that all necessary considerations have been made and ensure consistency in decision making
• several suggestions were made to make the checklists more concise including integrating considerations within the text, the use of flowcharts and adapting the layout of the tables
• it was suggested that including the flowchart of the exclusion notification process would be helpful as an annex for quick reference for headteachers
• it was suggested that the terminology of ‘mitigations’ on return from an exclusion is more appropriate and reflective of current practice than ‘conditions’ – e.g. mitigations put in place through risk assessment

Title

• options to refresh the title of the guidance were explored by members - it was suggested by several members that retaining reference to preventing school exclusion was important to recognise the national approach of exclusion as a last resort and the wider guidance framework which supports positive relationships and behaviour to prevent exclusion

Timeframe for publication

The timeframe for finalisation of Included, Engaged and Involved Part 2 was discussed. Finalisation of the guidance would be subject to the outcome of the forthcoming parliamentary election.

Action points:

• members to provide any additional feedback via correspondence
• SG to update section on individual considerations and annexes including checklists and flowchart in response to feedback from members and circulate in advance of the next meeting of the group
• SG to consider a factsheet for parents and carers and overarching glossary to support publication of the guidance document