Schools can refer a child to the Fair Access Panel (FAP) to request a short-term intervention place at Burnside Secondary School. This is usually if a child is at risk of permanent exclusion because, for a range of reasons, they are not thriving in their mainstream school.
A panel of head teachers, members of the Youth & Family Resilience Team and Educational Psychology will listen to the case and decide collectively if the child would benefit from a period of short intervention at Burnside Secondary School.
If the panel are in agreement with an allocation, then the parent will be informed in writing of the panel’s decision and the Head, Deputy Head or Designated Safeguarding Lead will contact the parent to arrange an admissions meeting.
Our aim is to admit new pupils within 10 working days. In the unlikely case that we are over-subscribed, the pupil’s case will be discussed at the Fair Access Panel and the pupil would be placed on a waiting list.
How are young people referred?
The process of referring young people is as follows:
- Concerns regarding a child is raised by the school/parent indicating that they may be at risk of exclusion.
- A referral is made to FAP (Fair Access Panel) by the mainstream school.
- Referrals are discussed at panel and if Burnside is seen as a suitable intervention, the admission process begins.
- A meeting will be held with the parents/carers and consent to start at Burnside will be sought.
- Each child will join Burnside for up to two terms, with a phased induction if necessary to ensure their success. If the child is not permanently excluded, the expectation will that in most cases the child will return to their mainstream after the period of intervention, subject to satisfactory progress reviews.
- If a child is permanently excluded from a mainstream school, they may also be referred to Burnside. After a period of intervention of up to two terms and subject to satisfactory progress being made, parents/carers will be encouraged to identify a new mainstream school which will then be submitted to the Fair Access Panel.
Pupil Referral Units and Alternative provision in the London Borough of Waltham Forest provide education to borough children and young people between KS1 – 4 who at some point in their education, are unable to attend mainstream school.
Schools and Academies in the LA collaborate in the process of identification and evaluation of pupils needs, the placement of pupils in Pupil Referral Units or Alternative provision as required and the monitoring of outcomes for pupils educated out of school through a Fair Access Panel (FAP).