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

Attendees and apologies

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

Apologies

• Society of Local Authority Lawyers and Administrators in Scotland (SOLAR)
• Association of Scottish Principle Educational Psychologists (ASPEP)
• Association of Directors of Education Scotland (ADES)
• Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
• Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA)
• Education Scotland (community Learning)

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 in January.

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 on the structure of the guidance, alignment with the current policy and legislative landscape and approaches to prevention and alternatives to exclusion. Points raised by members included:

Section 2: Introduction

• the chair highlighted that guidance on ‘informal exclusions’ had been moved to section 2 – members welcomed this change with suggestions made that the guidance on ‘informal exclusions’ in section 2 is well placed to increase its prominence
• a member welcomed plans to include exclusions statistics in an infographic

Section 3: Prevention Strategies and Alternatives to Exclusion

• the importance of strong partnership with parents and carers and listening to parental concerns was discussed – it was suggested that linking to resources to support parental engagement may be helpful
• it was suggested that the guidance should reference the importance of information sharing between hosting schools
• consistency of language across guidance documents was discussed

Section 4: Considerations Prior to Exclusion, Annex 2 and Checklists

• it was suggested it would be helpful for the guidance to refer to considerations relating to UNCRC and the Equalities Act
• it was suggested that input from the Gender Equality Taskforce for Education and Learning may be helpful with regard individual considerations prior to exclusion
• a number of suggestions regarding the structure and approach to the presentation of legislation within the guidance were made, including the potential use of appendices or text boxes throughout the guidance

Section 5: Management of an Exclusion

• timescales for the provision of education during a period of exclusion were discussed – a number of members suggested that guidance should mirror the  legislative position of education provision ‘without undue delay’
• legislation regarding the notification of exclusion was discussed including information to be included in an exclusion letter
• it was suggested that consideration should be given to the guidance in circumstances where one or both parents do not live with the child or where children or young people are care experienced

Section 6: Return to School

• it was noted that guidance to support successful return following an exclusion and guidance on prevention strategies and alternatives to exclusion are closely aligned and appropriate signposting between relevant sections within the guidance should be included.

The chair highlighted to members that consideration was being given to the existing guidance within IEI2 on weapons in schools.

Timing of the next meeting of the working group was discussed. Members agreed that meeting after the Easter break would be appropriate with any additional feedback to be given via correspondence.

AOB

The chair highlighted to members that engagement work with children and young people is planned with Quarriers. Members will be kept informed as work progresses.

The chair also drew attention to the sixth wave of Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research which is now underway and encouraged members to raise awareness of the survey within their networks where appropriate.

Action points:

• guidance to be redrafted in response to feedback from members and circulated in advance of the next meeting of the group.
• next meeting to be scheduled for after the Easter break.
• members to provide any additional feedback on the current draft by 13th March.