Schools: Included, engaged and involved part 2 guidance refresh working group minutes - August 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Scottish Government
• Education Scotland
• Association of Directors of Education Scotland (ADES)
• School Leaders Scotland (SLS)
• National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT)
• Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS)
• Association of Headteachers and Deputes Scotland (AHDS)
• Connect
• Includem
• Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA)
• Glasgow University
• Association of Scottish Principle Educational Psychologists (ASPEP)

Apologies

• Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
• The Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection (CELCIS)

Items and actions

Welcome, introductions and background

The chair welcomed members to the group and noted apologies. 

The chair provided an overview to the context of the review of Included, Engaged and Involved Part 2 (IEI2), which sits within the broader scope of the Relationships and Behaviour in Schools Action Plan 2024-27.  

The chair noted that governance of the work of the group will be through the Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools (SAGRABIS).

Terms of reference and membership

A draft copy of the Terms of Reference was circulated in advance of the meeting for consideration. 

Membership of the working group was discussed. Group members made a number of suggestions for consideration as additional members: 

• representation from special schools 
• further representation from third sector organisations working with children and young people and parent groups
•  representation from a legal perspective 

Members confirmed that they were otherwise content with the Terms of Reference. 

Action: SG consider membership and circulate updated Terms of Reference in advance of next meeting for final approval.

Meeting frequency and timings

The chair suggested that meetings approximately every 6 weeks may be appropriate. Members agreed this approach. It was currently estimated that the project would take approximately 12 months, but this would be kept under review. 

Action: SG to schedule upcoming meetings and circulate invites to members.

Suggested areas for consideration

Suggested priority areas for guidance review were circulated in advance of the meeting for members to consider. Some key points raised by the group as being areas where the guidance needed review were:

• the interplay between the exclusions guidance, UNCRC, the Equality Act and The Promise
• how the guidance links to the broader suite of relationships and behaviour policies, including recent and ongoing work such as the risk assessment guidance, racism and racist incidents and recording and monitoring work. The need to link with wider Scottish Government policies including safeguarding, particularly for care experienced children and young people, was also highlighted
• greater exploration of alternatives to exclusion
• greater exploration of the purpose of exclusion focusing on improvement in behaviours and young people’s outcomes
• reviewing current evidence and impacts of societal factors on behaviour and exclusion 
• it was suggested that guidance on the use of part- time timetables should be closely linked with national guidance on school attendance which was also currently being updated - it was confirmed that both guidance reviews were being led by the Support and Wellbeing Unit 
• there should be consideration of how children’s rights should be reflected in the guidance, including in the decision-making process, appeals mechanisms and complaints process
• the structure of guidance, with a suggestion that guidance on informal exclusions should be highlighted more clearly - it was highlighted that there could be concerns amongst schools and parents about formally recording some exclusions
• greater exploration of supporting a child with their return after exclusion, and particularly how parents and carers should be included in those discussions may be helpful

It was suggested that it would be helpful to gather examples of action local authorities are taking as alternatives to exclusion. Group members agreed to provide information from their local areas. 

The representative from Glasgow University offered to provide an overview of emerging research on exclusion and addition support needs. The group agreed this would be a helpful input and should be brought forward at a future meeting. 

Action: Members to engage with networks around alternatives to exclusion and prevention strategies which are used in practice

Action: Members to share any recent research with SG which they feel should be considered for the guidance review.

Action: Glasgow University to provide overview of emerging research on exclusion data and additional support needs at a future meeting of the group. 

Next steps

The Chair noted that per the terms of reference, the next meeting of the working group would be scheduled for approximately 6 weeks’ time.  Meeting information would be circulated in due course.