Introduction

The Fair Access Protocol forms part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest's arrangements for ensuring that vulnerable and unplaced children are able to access suitable education without unnecessary delay.

The Protocol provides a clear, transparent and equitable framework through which the Council, schools, admission authorities and partner agencies work together to identify appropriate educational placements for children who meet the relevant Fair Access criteria.

The Council recognises that children considered through the Fair Access Protocol may have experienced disruption, instability or other circumstances that have affected their education. Decisions made under the Protocol should therefore seek not only to secure access to education, but to support educational continuity, inclusion, stability and positive long-term outcomes.

The effective operation of the Protocol depends upon collective responsibility and constructive partnership working between the Council, schools and relevant agencies. All partners have an important role in ensuring that vulnerable children are supported to access suitable education and that responsibility for Fair Access placements is shared fairly across the borough.

The Protocol should be read alongside the School Admissions Code, relevant education legislation, the Council's admission arrangements and other statutory guidance relevant to the education, safeguarding and welfare of children.

The London Borough of Waltham Forest is committed to:

• securing the right placement, at the right time, with the right support, so that every child has the opportunity to achieve positive educational, social and emotional outcomes.

The Fair Access Protocol is NOT responsible for securing school/educational placements for:

• Children/young people with an EHCP. This is carried out by the SEND & Commissioning Team
• Children/young people whose needs cannot be met through mainstream provision alone and may require support, intervention and, where appropriate, access to Alternative Provision. This is carried out by the Inclusion Panel.
• Children/young people who have been excluded. There are dealt with via the fixed term and permanent exclusions process 

Full details of the Fair Access process and referral form can be found here.

Click on the relevant section of the Fair Access Protocol below to read more:

Waltham Forest Vision for Inclusion

Waltham Forest is committed to an inclusive education system in which children and young people are supported to participate, belong, achieve and thrive within their local educational community wherever this is appropriate to their individual needs.

Fair Access forms part of a wider continuum of inclusion support.

The purpose of that wider system is not simply to respond when placements become difficult, but to identify needs early, provide appropriate support, prevent unnecessary educational disruption and enable children and young people to remain successfully engaged in education.

The Fair Access Protocol should therefore operate as part of the Council's wider inclusion arrangements rather than as an isolated admissions process.

Where mainstream education is appropriate, partners should work together to support successful and sustainable mainstream placements.

Where additional intervention is required, the appropriate inclusion arrangements should be considered.

Where Alternative Provision is required, it should form part of a purposeful educational pathway with clear objectives and, where appropriate, consideration of reintegration.

Inclusion Continuum

Universal inclusive mainstream provision
↓
Ordinarily Available Provision and school-based support
↓
Targeted inclusion intervention
↓
Multi-agency / Inclusion Panel consideration where appropriate
↓
Alternative Provision where required
↓
Reintegration planning where appropriate
↓
Successful and sustainable mainstream education

Fair Access operates alongside this continuum where an eligible child requires the identification of a mainstream school placement.