Applying for school places in Kent

Choosing your child’s first school can feel like a mammoth and nerve-wracking decision.

The choice of schools, the application process and the various admissions criteria, which may differ from school to school, does nothing but pile on the pressure.

But once you get started you can make the process run more smoothly- providing that you’re organised and you do your research.

Making a list of the schools you think you and your child might be interested in is a good place to start and inquiring about open events or registering for notifications of visiting days will enable you to go and see for yourself the places you might consider choosing.

It is worth remembering that your application form will ask you to make three choices so it is worth going to see more than just one or two schools.

And with distance likely to be a deciding factor for many if not all settings – researching those closest to you may be a sensible place to start.

Reports available from Kent County Council and Medway Council about last year’s selection process may be able to tell you the distance that each school took its successful pupils from, how many applications it received over and above the number of places it had available and how many places went to siblings – information that can be helpful in choosing your eventual top three or weighing up how successful you might be in being awarded a place at a favoured school.

And with siblings set to take priority when it comes to allocating places, visiting a school in person may also enable you find out how many of the places are likely to go to brothers and sisters of current pupils this time around as well as to other groups which may feature in a school’s selection criteria such as those attending a church/place of worship or pre-school pupils at a feeder or linked nursery.

For further information and support on applying for primary school places visit www.kent.gov.uk or www.medway.gov.uk

This year's school places in Kent will be confirmed in April.

Parents who applied online will be emailed on April 18 after 4pm to tell you which school you have been offered. We cannot guarantee the exact time you will receive your email, this will depend on your email service provider.

You can also log in to view your offer from 5pm.

If you applied by post KCC will send your offer by first class post on 18 April 2016.

For Medway school places, parents can log in to check their details here.

How to appeal against your school place offer.