when to start primary school and how to apply

[kelloo1]

sorry if i sound really thick but ds is my only child so i don't have a clue about it! Ds is 3 in April and i was wondering when i need to start applying for schools. And when should he start? The nursery teacher says he will start in the september after his 4th birthday which will make him 4 and a half when he goes. I thought they could start earlier than this or does it depend on the school? Also we know which school we would like him to go to but i know you don't have a choice, you just pick 3 and hope for the best. Do schools have waiting lists to apply early or can you only apply at a certain time?

He'll staqrt school Sept 2013 at 4.5.

You apply Sept 2012 for a place starting the following year.

the earliest he can start in reception is the september after he turns 4, you can choose whether this is full or part time, or defer entry until the January or even after Easter. He has to start school the term after he is 5 (unless hyou choose to home school)

you will need to apply for a school place for him next Autumn, our local authority does it mostly online. Applications are usually open from Mid Sept, to mid January, you will then find out (usually MArch) whoch school you have been allocated.

You may have the opportunity to put a name down at your preferred school, but that is only to give the school an idea of numbers, it has no bearing at all on the school place.

As others have indicated, your son will be due to start in September 2013. You will be able to apply to your local authority this time next year. The closing date for applications will be January 15th 2013. Applying early does not get you any priority. You will be able to name at least three schools as preferences but that doesn't guarantee that you will get a place at one of these schools. Most people do but it depends on how many are applying. If you don't get a place at any of your preferences you will be allocated a place somewhere else.

As your son was born in April you will have the option of deferring entry until January or after Easter.

As to deciding on the right school, take a look at your local Council's website, which should list out the schools in your catchment area. You can then take a look at the Ofsted reports for each of them, which will give you a rough idea of whether they are good, excellent, or poor standard, but don't go by just that.

Go for a look round all the schools you want to apply for, talk to other parents who might have older children at local schools, that way you will get a feel for what the school is really like.

Thanks everyone, that's made it a lot clearer for me! I will have a look on the council website and see what options i have.