What SEND Parents Need to Know
If your child is only in school for a few hours a day, or only on certain days of the week — you’re not alone.
Reduced timetables have become the hidden normal in the SEND world. But here’s the part most parents aren’t told:
👉 Not all reduced timetables are legal.
Let’s break it down.
🛑 What Is a Reduced Timetable?
A reduced timetable is when a child attends school part-time instead of full-time — for example, 9–11am only, or just Maths and English three days a week.
This is sometimes suggested by schools when:
- A child is struggling with anxiety or EBSA
- The setting can’t meet their sensory or behavioural needs
- Staff feel the environment is too overwhelming
- The school doesn’t have capacity to support full-time attendance
But here’s the issue…
⚖️ When Is a Reduced Timetable Lawful?
A reduced timetable must be:
- ✅ Temporary (with a clear plan to return to full-time)
- ✅ Agreed to by you (the parent or carer)
- ✅ In your child’s best interests, not the school’s convenience
- ✅ Regularly reviewed, with progress and next steps tracked
If the school hasn’t done this — or you’ve been pressured into agreeing — it may actually be:
- ❌ An unlawful exclusion
- ❌ A breach of Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 (duty to provide full-time, suitable education)
- ❌ Potentially disability discrimination under the Equality Act 2010
📘 What the Law Says
Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 requires local authorities to make arrangements for full-time education if a child of compulsory school age is unable to attend school for 15 or more school days — whether consecutive or cumulative — due to illness, exclusion, or other reasons.
If your child is on a reduced timetable without proper support or oversight, the LA may be failing in this legal duty.
🧠 Common Misuses of Reduced Timetables
We’ve heard from hundreds of parents facing:
- Children stuck on 1–2 hours a day for months
- Schools saying “we’ll review it eventually” — but never do
- Parents told they must agree “or the child will be excluded”
- No proper education happening — just containment
This isn’t support. This is gatekeeping education.
💬 What You Can Do
- Ask to see the reduced timetable plan in writing
- Request a reintegration plan with clear steps & timeframes
- Insist on regular review meetings
- If there is an EHCP, ensure Section F is being followed
- If things aren’t right — put your concerns in writing to the school and LA
- Quote Section 19 if the LA is not stepping in
Need help with the wording?
👉 We’ve got free templates & guidance at www.askellie.co.uk
💙 Final Thoughts
A reduced timetable might be helpful for a short period — but it must never become a long-term workaround for a failing system.
If your child can’t access full-time education, the system has to adapt to them — not the other way around.
You’re not being difficult.
You’re asking them to follow the law.
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