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

The Exclusions & Reintegration Officers will offer support for permanent exclusions and vulnerable removals/movers into Buckinghamshire.

A FAB Placement requires the full knowledge and agreement of parents/carers and pupil.

Consideration should be given to schools within reasonable distance of the child’s home address to avoid an unnecessarily lengthy journey for the pupil and avoid undue financial cost to the Local Authority.

Where relevant in cases where a pupil is on a Child Protection Plan or where there is active Children’s Social Care involvement, a contribution and involvement from their allocated Social Worker will be sought.

Once the pupil is placed on roll of the receiving school as part of a FAB Placement the Local Authority supports the school by giving a Pupil Reintegration Grant together with the balance of the AWPU from the excluding school. This includes pupils returning to mainstream school via the in-year admission route following a permanent exclusion as well as those permanently excluded pupils placed via FAB.

The Pupil Reintegration Grant will not be authorised by the Education Entitlement Team Manager or paid to the receiving school until all the necessary paperwork is received by the Local Authority.

The Pupil Reintegration Grant can be used to support the parents/carers to purchase school uniform, this is at the discretion of the receiving school.

The receiving school will ensure that the pupil is fully inducted and supported by staff who will offer advice, support, and buddy/mentor.

Where possible, the Local Authority will provide, with the parent/carer's consent, support from an Outreach Worker for a maximum of 12 weeks to support a pupil’s return to mainstream school.