Purpose

• The FAP ensures timely placement of children who face difficulties securing a school place through regular admissions.
• It prioritises unplaced children, especially the most vulnerable, to be found and offered a place quickly so that the amount of time any child is out of school is kept to a minimum.
• It aims to provide stability and support to the most vulnerable students.

Scope

• The FAP applies to all maintained schools, academies, and free schools in the area.
• It does not cover pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), as these cases are handled through a separate process.
• The protocol includes steps to handle urgent admissions outside the normal admission round.

Local Authority Role

• The local authority must develop and maintain a FAP in consultation with local schools.
• The BACME Service is responsible for managing the placement process and ensuring cooperation among schools.
• BACME monitors the effectiveness of the protocol and makes adjustments as necessary.

Remit

The FAP typically includes, but is not limited to, children who:

• Have been permanently excluded and require ratification of Day 6 placement or a new mainstream allocation.
• Are at risk of exclusion and require intervention in an Alternative Provision (AP) setting such as the Pupil Referral Unit.
• Require a therapeutic placement to support their Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
• Need a school placement because schools have declined to accept an Admissions allocation under point 3.10 of the School Admissions Code of Practice.

Alternative Provision Providers

In Waltham Forest, the following alternative provisions are available for placing pupils under the FAP:

• Burnside Secondary PRU: 20-week placement offering intensive support and reintegration plans.
• Hawkswood School: 20-week therapeutic placement focused on emotional needs.
• Belmont Park School: 20-week placement offering intensive support and reintegration plans.
• St. Raphael Centre, Holy Family: 20-week therapeutic placement focused on emotional needs. Non-Academic.
• The Oak Unit, Heathcote School: 12-week therapeutic placement focused on emotional needs. Non-Academic.
• Hawkswood Primary School: 20-week placement with part-time attendance for KS1 (home school on Thursdays and Fridays) and full-time attendance for KS2.

Panel and Decision-Making

• Secondary Panels: Meet in the morning; consist of five headteachers on a rota basis; chaired by one headteacher with continuity ensured by having the chair from the previous panel attend.
• Primary Panels: Meet in the afternoon; consist of headteachers who volunteer as decision-makers; chaired by the assistant director of the Access, Participation and Inclusion Service.
• Panels review cases, make placement decisions, and ensure fair distribution of placements among schools.

Expectations of the Decision-makers

• Review all submitted referrals and supporting documents to assess each child's needs and circumstances.
• Decide on the most appropriate school placement or alternative provision for each child, ensuring fair distribution among schools.
• Consider any written statements or representations submitted by parents.
• Consider feedback on the appropriateness of the referral for Alternative Provision.
• Consider written representations submitted by schools listed as parental preferences.
• Work collaboratively to support the best interests of the child and maintain a balanced approach across all schools involved.

Referral Process

• Schools must complete the IEP form and provide evidence that they have exhausted all internal and external resources.
• The completed FAP referral form should be submitted to the BACME Service by the set referral deadline.
• Ensure that all necessary documentation and support plans are included to facilitate a smooth referral process.

Principles

• Every Local Authority must have a Fair Access Protocol in which all schools (including Academies) must participate.
• Schools (including Academies) should work together collaboratively, taking into account the needs of the child and those of the school.
• There is no duty to comply with parental preference when allocating places through FAP, but it is expected that the wishes and feelings of the parents are taken into account.
• FAP should not be used as a means to circumvent the normal in-year admissions process. A parent can apply for a place as an in-year admission at any point and is entitled to appeal when a place is not offered.
• Eligibility for FAP does not limit a parent’s right to make an in-year application to any school for their child. Admissions must process these applications in accordance with their usual in-year admission procedures. They must not refuse to admit such children on the basis that they may be eligible to be placed via FAP The parent will continue to have the right of appeal for any place they have been refused, even if the child has been offered a school place via FAP.
• The FAP is based on fairness, transparency, and inclusivity.
• Schools are expected to share the responsibility of placing children, preventing any single school from becoming overburdened.
• The protocol allows for allocations over PAN, without necessarily meeting parental preferences, to ensure the best interest of the child.
• In agreeing a Fair Access Protocol, the panel must ensure that no school – including those with available places – is asked to take a disproportionate number of children who have been excluded from other schools, or who have challenging behaviour.

Compliance

• Schools must comply with the FAP guidelines as outlined in the FAP Terms of Reference.
• Schools listed as parental preferences are consulted and must provide feedback on placement offers.
• The panel’s decision overrides school feedback unless there are safeguarding concerns.
• All schools (including Academies) are expected to respond to requests by BACME to admit a child under FAP within five school days (as agreed on the FAP Terms of Reference).
• Once a school place has been allocated via FAP, arrangements should be made for the child to start at the school as soon as possible.
• The BACME Out of Mainstream Settings Officer must be invited to the admissions meeting and follow the FAP induction process.

Contact Information

• For further information or support regarding the FAP, please contact the FAP Coordinator, Jasmina Sula at Jasmina.Sula@walthamforest.gov.uk.
• Additional resources and guidance documents are available on the hub.

Review and Update Policy

• This page is reviewed and updated annually to reflect any changes in legislation, policy, or best practice.
• Feedback from schools and stakeholders is considered during the review process to ensure the protocol remains effective and relevant.