When do I find out about primary school places in 2022?

GOING to school is a major step in a child's life, meaning it can be stressful for all involved.

The first hurdle is getting accepted into the primary school of your choice, but when will you know?

When do I find out about primary school places in 2022?

Councils are responsible for primary school admissions and will send out offers on behalf of the school.

National offer day for primary schools falls on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.

This offer is for the September start date of the same year.

If you have applied online you will be sent an email on April 19, if you applied by post you receive a letter on the same date.

The letter or email will also give a date for you to accept the offer by.

If you miss this deadline your offer will be withdrawn and given to another student.

In the rare case that you are not accepted into any of your chosen three schools, the council is required to offer you a place at another school.

This will likely be the nearest school that still has places available.

What are the primary school admissions criteria?

There are different factors involved with your child's acceptance into a primary school.

These can vary from school to school so it is always best to check the specific criteria listed by your local council.

Priority can be given for any of these reasons:

• Distance from the school
• Siblings are already attending the school
• They are the eldest or only child in a family
• The child's parents attended the school
• The child's faith (if the school has religious links)

A primary school will tend to be a "feeder" school for a local secondary school but can also be linked to certain nurseries or pre-schools.

Attending the associated pre-schools can help you get in to the primary school when the time comes.

You must choose three suitable primary schools in your application.

When was the primary school application deadline?

The application process opens up in September, once the new batch of kids have started.

This runs until January the following year, closing around halfway through the month.

Your child must be three years old or have just turned four by the time applications close to be eligible.

Applications only open once per year so if you miss them or feel your child is not ready then you can wait until the next year.