Fair Access Policy 2025 to 2026 (reviewed June 2025)

The purpose of the Fair Access Protocol (the Protocol) is to ensure that, outside the normal admissions round, unplaced children, especially the most vulnerable, are found and offered a place quickly, so that the amount of time any child is out of school is kept to the absolute minimum.

The Protocol reflects the Department for Education (DfE) Guidance “Fair Access Protocols” (August 2021) and sets out some principles to clarify the expectations on all parties to ensure it can operate effectively. It is aimed at both admission authorities and schools and adheres fully to the School Admissions Code (September 2021) in particular paragraphs 3.14 to 3.22 that requires the Local Authority (LA) and all admission authorities within its administrative boundaries to adhere to a Fair Access Protocol (the Protocol).

This policy also gives regard to the Elective Home Education guidance for Local Authorities and the guidance for parents (April 2019) and also the Children Missing Education statutory guidance (August 2024).

The process may be triggered when a parent of an eligible child or young person has not secured a school place through in-year admission procedures, where a child has been permanently excluded or where an electively home educated pupil is found not to be in receipt of a suitable education.

The Protocol sets out the expectations on the Local Authority and all schools to work together swiftly to identify a school place for those children where there is difficulty in finding one who do not already have a school place.

This updated version of the Protocol, developed in partnership with Heads and Principals to ensure that outside the normal admissions rounds, unplaced children and young people, especially the most vulnerable, are offered a place at a suitable local school as quickly as possible. This will be done in a fair and transparent manner and is a process agreed by schools in Stockton-on-Tees. All schools (including Academies and Free Schools) must participate, as the Protocol is legally binding on all schools.

In most instances this protocol will be applied to children of secondary school age. It remains relevant for children of primary school age however the numbers of primary aged pupils who meet the requirements of this protocol are expected to be few. However, schools will be expected to continue to admit pupils who apply for an available place, under normal admission arrangements.