To be really worrying about applying for primary schools for 1st born?

[CruCru]

I need to apply for the September 2016 entry (so not for at least five months) and already worried about getting the application right. I think it's all the news coverage and all the threads.

I've lost the plot a bit, haven't I?

I'm worried to to be honest CruCru. You're not alone!

I've already been through the rigmarole of getting my brother into the school he was refused (after they shut down 2 primary schools and 2 high schools in our area and then were suddenly shocked when there wasnt enough places)

Just make sure you put at least one school you know you have a good chance of getting into, even if it's not your first choice. Look at your county stats online to see which schools you have the best chance of getting into.

Having just been through this, it was quite stress-free. We looked up what schools were closest to us, and then which ones we were in the catchment area for.
Our local authority requested that we put 4 choices down, in order of preference, so we did so.

I didn't bother going to visit any of the schools as there were no guarantees as to which one DC would go to. I reasoned that if I didn't have any expectations or preferences, I was less likely to be disappointed.

Be realistic about schools you could get into. Look at figures for this year to base this on. High numbers get their first choice in most areas, London though is another matter.

Be realistic
Visit the schools
Know the entrance/acceptance policies of the school and any supplementary forms that need co pletion
Things change between April (outcome) and eventual class (Sep) - applications made for children going private (always an overlap)

I agree with the others about being realistic with your choices.

Don't read to much into ofsted report. Visit schools, ask questions, talk to local parents.

Yep, I am in North London, our nearest school is the super popular oversubscribed one. In theory we should get in but in practice the cutoff distance shrinks each year (now it's about 250 metres).