Reduced Timetables Guidance

If parents do not agree, the reduced timetable arrangements cannot be implemented, and a full time-time timetable should remain in place.  In these circumstances parents should work with the school to explore other options and any professionals or agencies should be consulted. 

A reduced timetable is a short term measure and should be considered in the best interest of the child.   

Arrange a meeting with the school to discuss your child’s special educational needs and the difficulties that prevents the school from allowing your child to stay for the whole day along with their peers

• It would be important to find out if your child or young person is receiving SEN Support and One Planning has been implemented.  If your child has One Planning in place, have the school followed the strategies and agreed actions?
• Ask the school to outline their reasons for their approach, the current preventative measures in place and any alternative interventions to also consider
• Speak with your child or young person and ask them what support they feel would help them. Agree with the school what level of support can be provided.
• Ask what measures/strategies will be in place for your child during the reduced timetable.
• Establish the key points:-
  1. Whether your child will be in school with their own class and teacher during the sessions in school (will they need an allocated quiet space to work)?
  2. Will your child be given any work to complete at home during the reduced timetable?
  3. Is there a named member of staff for your child to go to if they need to talk to someone?
  4. How will your child be supported on the reduced timetable – will the current One Planning interventions continue?
• How will the reduced timetable be monitored and gradually increased to full time?                                         
• Ask for the agreements, actions and interventions to be written in a Reduced Timetable Plan.
• There has to be clear intention from the school that they are committed to getting your child back in for a full day and identify and put in place the SEN provision/strategies required to achieve that.
• Keep a record of the time out of school, incidents/issues/reasons why your child is not in school or is not attending classes
• Ask the school if they have made a referral to Educational Psychology or if any outside services have been or could be brought in to assist with the return to full time hours
• If the school are saying that they do not have the resources to facilitate the inclusion of your child in the full school day you as a parent have the right to apply for an Education, Health & Care Needs Assessment of your child’s needs.
• Consider whether a reduced timetable will impact on public examinations, either linked to actually sitting the exam or completing the coursework or curriculum needed to be successful
• A risk assessment should be carried out to consider the safety and wellbeing of the pupil and whether a reduced educational offer would increase their vulnerability and place them more at risk of potential harm.

Where pupils have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), schools should ensure the local authority is involved to ensure the EHCP is reviewed and amended where appropriate to reflect any changes in their provision. A meeting should be convened to discuss the option of a reduced timetable.   The SEND Operations Team must agree to the intervention and a reduced educational provision must not negatively impact any additional support given to a child or young person due to his/her educational needs.

It would be advisable to request an early review of the EHCP if your child’s needs have changed and the provision on plan no longer meets their needs.  You can read our information page on  Annual Reviews

A part-time timetable must not be treated as a long-term solution. This should only be in place in exceptional circumstances and for a temporary period, with an agreed date for when the reduced timetable will end.  

If your child has been on a reduced timetable for a long time and you are unhappy with this arrangement, we would recommend that you ask for a meeting with your child’s school to discuss:

• Whether the school has notified the local authority your child or young person is on a reduced timetable. The local authority should be made aware if a child has been on a reduced timetable for longer than 6-8 weeks.
• Ask if the school have reached out to local authority professionals, such as an Inclusion Partner, Attendance Specialist or other agencies and services for specialist advice and targeted support?
• Your child’s academic and developmental progress
• Whether the reduced timetable is actually meeting its objectives
• If the school are saying that they do not have the resources to facilitate the inclusion of your child in the full school day you as a parent have the right to apply for an Education, Health & Care Needs Assessment of your child’s needs.
• Your wish for your child to return to school on a full-time basis, or, on increased hours and how this can be achieved

Collaborative discussions such as these are really important because you can update the school on how your child presents at home and the school will be able to update you on how your child presents in school.