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, will be admitted to a new school under the Fair Access Protocol.