Ensuring that vulnerable children are allocated a school place (Fair Access Protocol)

There are fewer permanent exclusions in the primary sector than in secondary schools. Therefore, any meetings to discuss Primary Fair Access Board placements will be called as and when required by the Exclusions and Reintegration Team to discuss pupils that require placement under the Protocol if these pupils can’t be agreed directly with schools in the first instance. It’s likely these meetings will normally be conducted remotely.

The Local Authority will send out information on each child prior to a meeting, detailing parental preference for a new school (as above there is no duty to comply with parental preference when allocating places through the Protocol).

Under the Fair Access Protocol, schools can be asked to admit one child over number in every 30 of the admission number without reference to the need to convene a panel.

To ensure children are placed in a timely manner we expect that all schools send a representative to the meeting with decision making authority.

Pupils returning to a mainstream school following a permanent exclusion and where it has not been possible to secure a place through the usual in-year admission process, the pupil will be admitted to a new school under the Fair Access Protocol.

The Local Authority Secondary Fair Access Board is composed of:

• Chair – Independent Education Consultant
• Headteachers or person with delegated authority to accept placements on a school’s behalf
• Representatives from Aspire (Pupil Referral Unit)
• Head of Achievement and Learning
• Education Entitlement Manager
• Exclusions and Reintegration Officers
• Admissions and Transport Manager or representative
• Integrated SEND Service Representative
• Education Officer or representative – Youth Justice and Support Team
• Social Care representative as required
• Commissioner Education and Sufficiency
• Thames Valley Police
• Business Support Specialist

Board members need to read and sign the Information Sharing Protocol at the beginning of the academic year.

The aim of the Board is for 70% of statutory school aged children in Buckinghamshire to be admitted or reintegrated into school within twenty school days of the decision made at the Fair Access Board.

To ensure children are placed in a timely manner the expectation is that all schools send a representative, with decision making powers to the meeting. A decision will be made by the Fair Access Board irrespective of attendance of school representative.

Pupils returning to a mainstream school following a permanent exclusion, who have not been able to secure a school place via the usual admissions process will be admitted at the new school under the Fair Access Protocol based on available information and previous placement data.