Applications for school places are now open for parents in Nottinghamshire with children who will start reception or transfer from infant (year 2) to junior education (year 3) in September 2024.
For children who’ll turn five years old between 1 September 2024 and 31 August 2025, or are transferring from infant to junior or primary school, parents have until Monday 15th January 2024 to complete their application on time.
Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) is strongly advising parents to research their preferred schools, use all four preferences, check the admissions criteria thoroughly for the schools they’d prefer their child to attend, and apply on time.
For the best chance of being offered a place at a preferred school, NCC also advises parents to include schools where their child would have higher priority in the admissions criteria and to list four schools.
NCC’s Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Councillor Tracey Taylor, said: “It’s important for parents to remember that children don’t automatically transfer from nursery to full-time school, and they’ll need to submit an application to join reception year.
“The good news is that last year, over 99% of families in Nottinghamshire who applied on time were offered one of their preferred infant, junior or primary schools.”
“However, there’s no guarantee that a child who attends a school’s nursery will get a place in reception at that same school and parents must make a formal application for a place.
“Likewise, if a child is in year 2 at an infant school, there’s no automatic transfer to year 3 at junior or primary and parents must submit an application.”
How to apply
Parents of children living in Nottinghamshire should apply through NCC, even if they wish to apply for schools in other local authority areas such as Nottingham City or Derbyshire.
The easiest way to apply for a place is online at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/admissions. Those who apply online will be able to log in to their account on National Offer Day on Tuesday 16th April 2024 to view the outcome of their application.
If parents provide an email address, the outcome will be sent by email. All other applications will be mailed by second class post on National Offer Day.
Applications received after the closing date are considered late applications and will be processed once all the on-time applications have been offered.
NCC’s website, www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/admissions, has full details about the application process, and the ‘Admissions to Schools: Guide for Parents 2024-2025’ contains lots of useful information and advice.