Suffolk’s Fair Access Protocol (FAP) is testament to the excellent and effective partnership work between local schools and the Local Authority (LA) to maximise the life chances and choices for local children. Education should not be in isolation from the wider range of support and services already provided and should be available to meet the needs of all children and families. The School Admissions Code (SAC), September 2021, paragraph 3.14 states that each LA must have a FAP to ensure that unplaced and vulnerable children, and those who are having difficulty in securing a school place in-year, are allocated a school place as quickly as possible.
Please complete and send a referral form (see attachments) and an up-to-date risk assessment to [email protected].
The IYFAP is the mechanism used to operate the FAP, it also considers the re-integration of permanently excluded children, those returning to a mainstream school from a PRU or AP and managed moves.
IYFAP meetings are held across Suffolk, separated into three localities, West, North and South and held approximately on a four-weekly term time basis. The referrer will be expected to present cases at their respective IYFAP, under the appropriate Agenda item based on the individual circumstances of the child. Suffolk children attending schools in other counties may also be referred into the IYFAP. Equally children living in other Local Authorities and attending Suffolk schools cannot be referred to IYFAP and should be referred to their own LA.
Children in care are not subject to the FAP and should not be presented or discussed at the IYFAP. Instead, their situations, requirements should be resolved outside of the IYFAP meetings.
It is important that all schools are asked to admit a balance of pupils under the protocol. The decision should be mindful but not restricted to the following factors as well as taking account of professional advice from the referring school and appropriate professionals:
- Specific issues in relation to the individual case.
- Number of placements made by IYFAP to individual schools as reflected in the IYFAP Table.
- Parental preference.
- Geographical proximity.
- Distance factor (measured by statutory walking distance).
Useful documents
Managed Moves
A managed move is used to initiate a process which leads to the transfer of a pupil to another mainstream school permanently. Managed moves should be voluntary and agreed with all parties involved, including the parents and the admission authority of the new school. Managed moves should only occur when it is in the pupil’s best interests. Where a pupil has an EHCP, the relevant statutory duties on the new school and local authority will apply. If the current school is contemplating a managed move, it should contact the authority prior to the managed move. If the local authority, both schools and parents agree that there should be a managed move, the local authority will need to follow the statutory procedures for amending a plan.
Managed moves should be offered as part of a planned intervention. The on-roll school should be able to evidence that appropriate initial intervention has been carried out, including, where relevant, any multi-agency support and/or any completed statutory assessments.
Managed moves should be arranged through the In Year Fair Access Protocol, school must complete the Inclusion Referral Form and submit to the [email protected] email/inbox. The IYFAP dates are held throughout the term and where a school is working in a safe, timely and supportive manner for a pupil, managed moves can be arranged before the next locality IYFAP by notifying the Chair of IYFAP. The child will then be placed on the agenda for ratification.
The managed move should be preceded by information sharing between the on-roll school and the new school, including data on prior and current attainment, academic potential, a risk assessment, and advice on effective risk management strategies. It is also important for the new school to ensure that the pupil is provided with an effective integration strategy.
It is important that any managed move is arranged collaboratively, and the parent/carer should in no way feel they were placed under pressure. Ofsted will consider any evidence found of a parent being pressured into a managed move that has resulted in off rolling and is likely to judge a school as inadequate based on such evidence.