The law requires that each local authority must have a Fair Access Protocol, agreed with the majority of schools in its area to ensure that – outside the normal admissions round - unplaced children, especially the most vulnerable, are offered a place at a suitable school as quickly as possible.
In agreeing a protocol, the local authority must ensure that no school - including those with available places - is asked to take a disproportionate number of children who have been excluded from other schools, or who have challenging behaviour.
The protocol must include how the local authority will use provision to ensure that the needs of pupils who are not ready for mainstream schooling are met.
All admission authorities in Newham (the local authority, academies, free and voluntary aided schools) must participate in our Fair Access Protocol in order to ensure that unplaced children are allocated a school place quickly.
There is no duty for local authorities or admission authorities to comply with parental preference when allocating places through the Fair Access Protocol.