The ladder
It is important for schools to try and understand the underlying causes of behaviour through early intervention and whether additional support is needed. Underlying causes of persistent disruptive behaviour should be investigated, and support provided such that permanent exclusion is only ever a last resort.
Part one of the ladder translates this advice into a clear protocol for Lincolnshire schools. It is designed to promote an evidence-based approach to early intervention and to signpost the resources now available within Lincolnshire to enable the inclusion of vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils. If the pupil is a child in care, the virtual school should be involved.
The guidance on one-off serious breaches of behaviour policy (part two) is informed by DfE and ACPO guidance on drug-related incidents and underpinned by Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) model policies. These will guide headteachers in pursuing inclusive alternatives to permanent exclusion when pupils make serious, but one-off, mistakes.