Education: the early years

You must fill in a CR2 application form for the school of your choice, listing a second preference in the event of the school being oversubscribed. Closing dates for applications vary between education authorities but generally your application must arrive no later than the middle of January in the year in which your child is due to start school. (Ideally, you should get your application in a couple of months earlier than this.) If your application has been successful the school will let you know by the start of February. You will be notified about your second preference application before the end of February.

If your child's chosen school is oversubscribed, places will be allocated according to the following criteria, which are listed in order of priority:

1. Any child with a medical, physical or psychological condition which makes attendance at a particular school essential.
2. Any child living within the designated catchment area who has a sibling on the roll of the preferred school or any linked junior school on the same site - but only if that sibling will still be on the roll at the time of admission.
3. Children living within the designated catchment area who live closest to the school based on the shortest walking route using public roads and footpaths, or measured as a straight line - the method of measurement varies depending on your local education authority.
4. Children living outside the designated catchment area of the school who at the time of application have a sibling on the roll of the preferred school - but only if that sibling will still be on the roll at the time of admission.
5. Children living outside the designated catchment area of the school. Preference will be given to those closest to the boundary of the catchment area.

You have the right to appeal if you are unhappy with the school place your child has been given. You should write to the admissions team at your local education authority, which will consider your appeal after the end of February and before the middle of the summer term. However, because of legislation limiting the size of infant classes to 30 pupils, grounds for appeal are very limited.

Church schools
Until the Elementary Education Act of 1870, most people who received a free education did so at the hands of the Church. Despite state involvement dating from this time, religious bodies such as the Church of England and the Catholic Church still play a major role in the education of children in this country.

Priority for admission to church schools is given to children whose parents are active members of the church community. Unless you are especially active within your community your involvement will have to be verified by an appropriate church authority - but only if you are claiming this as grounds for preferential treatment. (If your attendance at church is limited to weddings and funerals you will not be considered to be an active member of your local church community.)