Starting school? Here’s the plan.

Applying for a Reception place, the one deadline that matters, and how offers work.

Apply the year before.

You apply the school year before your child starts Reception — children start the September after their 4th birthday. Applications go through your own council — where you live — even for schools in another council’s area, via its online portal.

Rank in your true order.

You can list several schools — typically 3–6, the form shows your council’s limit. England runs equal preference: schools never see where you ranked them, so rank in your true order of preference and use every slot. Naming only one school doesn’t improve your chances — it just removes your say if it’s full. Include at least one school you’re likely to get (check last year’s distances).

Who gets priority.

Typical oversubscription criteria order: children in care, siblings, distance, faith or catchment. Infant classes (Reception–Y2) are capped by law at 30 pupils per school teacher, with limited lawful exceptions — which is why appeals at this age succeed on narrow legal grounds only. Summer-born children: parents can ask to defer the start within the year or request a delayed Reception start — the council’s website explains its process.