This section forms part of the Fair Access Protocol. You can find details of the full Fair Access Protocol arrangements here.
Policy Statement
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is committed to ensuring that, wherever appropriate, children attending Alternative Provision are supported to achieve successful and sustainable reintegration into mainstream education.
Reintegration should be a planned, collaborative and child-centred process that promotes educational continuity, minimises disruption to learning and secures long-term educational, social and emotional outcomes.
The Council recognises that successful reintegration is achieved not simply when a child starts at a mainstream school, but when they are able to sustain, engage with and benefit from their education over time.
Purpose
This section sets out the Council's approach to reintegration from Alternative Provision into mainstream education.
It explains the principles of effective reintegration, the respective responsibilities of the Inclusion Panel and Fair Access Panel, and the arrangements for securing a suitable mainstream placement where required.
Scope of this Section
This section covers:
This section does not cover:
Principles of Reintegration
Reintegration should be based upon the following principles:
Planning for Reintegration
Planning for reintegration should begin when attendance at Alternative Provision is agreed, where reintegration to mainstream education is considered an appropriate long-term outcome.
Planning should normally include consideration of:
Reintegration planning should be reviewed regularly and amended where circumstances change.
Readiness for Reintegration
A decision that a child is ready to return to mainstream education should be based on a balanced assessment of the child's individual circumstances and not on any single factor.
Factors that may be considered include:
Partnership Working
Successful reintegration depends upon effective partnership working between the Alternative Provider, the receiving school, the child or young person, parents or carers, the Council and all relevant partner agencies.
Reintegration planning should be collaborative, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities, ensuring that appropriate support is in place before, during and after the child or young person returns to mainstream education.
All partners should work together to promote educational continuity, minimise disruption and maximise the likelihood of a successful and sustainable mainstream placement.
Roles and Responsibilities
Organisation
| Responsibility
|
|---|---|
Alternative Provider
| Leads on co-ordinating reintegration planning and facilitates effective partnership working to ensure a smooth transition into mainstream education. Works collaboratively with the receiving school, the child or young person, parents or carers, the Council and other relevant education, health family support and social care agencies to develop, implement and review the reintegration plan, sharing appropriate information to support a successful and sustainable placement.
|
Receiving School
| Works in partnership with the Alternative Provider, the Council and relevant agencies to prepare for admission, plan transition arrangements, implement appropriate support and promote successful and sustainable reintegration.
|
Council
| Supports and oversees reintegration planning where appropriate, coordinates the Fair Access process where a new mainstream placement is required, and facilitates partnership working across services.
|
Fair Access Panel
| Where a new mainstream school place is required, considers the referral and identifies a suitable mainstream placement in accordance with the Fair Access Protocol.
|
Where appropriate, reintegration planning meetings should include the child or young person, parents or carers, the Alternative Provider, the receiving school, Council officers and any other professionals involved in supporting the child's education, wellbeing or safeguarding.
Role of the Fair Access Panel
The Fair Access Panel does not determine when a child should leave Alternative Provision.
Where the reintegration plan (developed by the Alternative Provision provider as part of multi-agency working) has determined that reintegration to mainstream education is appropriate and a new mainstream school place is required, the referral may be considered through the Fair Access Protocol in accordance with the eligibility criteria set out in Section 5.
The Fair Access Panel's role is to identify a suitable mainstream school placement in accordance with this Protocol.
Transition Arrangements
Successful reintegration should be supported through a planned transition that reflects the child's individual needs.
Transition arrangements may include:
The receiving school should be provided with sufficient information to enable appropriate planning before admission, subject to data protection requirements.
Monitoring Successful Reintegration
Following admission to a mainstream school, the Council and relevant partners should monitor progress to promote placement stability and identify any additional support required.
Monitoring may include consideration of:
Early intervention should be provided where concerns arise to maximise the likelihood of a successful and sustainable placement.
Successful Reintegration
Successful reintegration should not be measured solely by admission to a mainstream school.
Where appropriate, indicators of success may include:
The Council, schools and partner agencies will work collaboratively to sustain placements and minimise the risk of further disruption to the child's education.
Figure 12.1 — Reintegration Pathway
Attendance at Alternative Provision
↓
Regular Review of Progress
↓
Alternative Provision Provider (as part of multi-agency development of reintegration plan) determines readiness for reintegration
↓
New mainstream school required?
NO → Return to existing mainstream school
YES
↓
Fair Access Panel
↓
Mainstream school identified
↓
Planned transition
↓
Monitoring and review
↓
Successful and sustainable reintegration