Each local authority must have a Fair Access Protocol for in-year admissions to ensure that:

• children, especially the most vulnerable or those with challenging behaviour, who have not been offered a school place through the normal procedures are found and offered a place at a suitable school as quickly as possible
• all schools in an area admit their fair share of children with challenging behaviour, including children excluded from other schools

For further details, please read the:

• Primary school In Year Fair Access Protocol
• Secondary school In Year Fair Access Protocol

If your application is to be considered by the In Year Fair Access Panel, you'll be advised by the school admissions team. When an application meets the criteria, a request for background information is sent to the existing/previous school. This information is submitted to the panel.

The In Year Fair Access Protocol does not apply to Looked After Children, previously Looked After Children or children with education health and care plans, for whom separate admission arrangements apply.