06/01/2015 - Permalink

Apply for your child’s school place by 15 January deadline

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Shropshire Council would like to take this opportunity to remind parents to apply for their child’s school place.

The school admissions team ensure thousands of children start school each year.  Last year the team were able to place 95% of reception-aged children in their highest preference school.

In order to ensure as many children are as successful in gaining their first preference in this round of applications, Shropshire Council is reminding parents to make their applications for their child’s school place before the deadline.

If your child will be four years old by 1 September 2015 then you will need to apply by 15 January 2015.  Changes to regulations a few years ago mean that four year olds are now able to start school in the autumn term, September 2015.  Even if parents wish to defer their child starting school until they are closer to statutory school age, their application for a school place must still be made by 15 January 2015.

Parents are being encouraged to make applications online at shropshire.gov.uk/schooladmissions.   There are many advantages of completing an application online, one being that parents can review the results of their application online.  This can be done at a library if parents have difficulty accessing the Internet at home.

Alternatively, parents may call 0345 678 9008 and a member of the school admissions team will be happy to receive the application details.

Parents are reminded that they must still make an application for council schools to the admissions team even if:

  • an older sibling is already at the school
  • the child attends a linked nursery
  • the family live within the school’s designated catchment area
  • the parent or carer has put their child’s name on a list at the school.

Ann Hartley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children’s services – transformation and safeguarding, said:

“We want to remind and encourage all parents to apply for their child’s school place by 15 January 2015.  Our admissions team work very hard to ensure that as many people as possible are able to attend their preferred school.  Unfortunately, not all parents apply by the closing date and some parents do not even make an application at all.  The consequences are that parents may miss out on the opportunity for their child to be considered for a place at their preferred school, as we are legally obliged to consider all late applications after the on-time applications have been allocated.”