Time is running out for parents who are yet apply for a primary school place for their child.

Mums and dads of children born between September 1, 2013, and August 31, 2014, have until Monday (January 15) to apply for a primary school place for the academic year starting in September this year.

Applicants will be asked to submit a shortlist of six schools they would like their child to attend, ranking them in order of preference.

Parents who miss the deadline run the risk of their children missing out on a place at one of their nominated schools.

Despite the looming deadline, The Good Schools Guide, a leading independent source of information on schools in the UK, is advising parents and carers that there is still time to find out about schools in your area before applying.

Those who meet the January deadline will receive offers for placements on April 16.

Applications made after the January deadline will not be considered until after the April offer date.

The deadline for primary school applications for this year in Monday (January 15)

Late submissions will be added to waiting list with applicants who were not offered a place in the initial allocation round.

Parents in London can apply for school places online 24 hours a day and seven days a week up until the 15 January closing date.

Changes to preferences can also be made online up until 11.59pm on Monday.

The Good Schools Guide has put together a series of tips for parents and carers who are still to make the important choice.

It recommends the following:

There's still time to do your research

There is still time to research your local schools. All primary schools have websites and many produce brochures. Have a look online to get a feel for the school. Some schools may be holding last-minute open mornings or tours

Choose a school which suits your child

You know your child better than anyone else. What would encourage them to learn, progress and develop socially? Find out whether schools offer any particular activities or if there is a strong emphasis on reading or writing, art or sport.

Ofsted reports

Look at the most recent Ofsted report. All the reports are available, as are details of SATs results, on the Department for Education Performance Tables website.

Get it right

Make sure you get the application process right. Your council’s admissions guide explains how to apply and lists the admissions criteria for schools in your area.

Information from previous years is also published such as whether schools were oversubscribed, how places were allocated and the distance children admitted previously live from the school.

If applicable, catchment area maps will also be included.

The Good Schools Guide website contains maps for each school based on where pupils have been admitted from in recent years. This will give you an idea of how likely you are to get a place.

Faith schools?

A faith school may be an attractive option but you will need to complete a supplementary information form (SIF) which will ask for details of your family’s religious adherence. Regardless of its proximity to your home, many faith schools will give priority to children from religious families. Always check the school’s over-subscription criteria to be sure.

Be realistic

Remember you are not choosing a school but rather listing those you would like your child to attend. Most Local Authorities ask parents to list three or four schools in order of preference. London parents are asked for six. The Good Schools Guide advises parents to include at least one where you are virtually sure of getting a place – even if it isn’t you first choice. Otherwise, you risk being offered an undesirable, under-subscribed school some distance away.

Appeals

Appealing the decision if you are unhappy with the outcome of your application is unlikely to work. Successful primary application appeals are rare and are dependent on the Local Authority making a mistake when assessing an application. Long journeys to the school or having siblings at a different school are not grounds for an appeal. However, if you have a genuine case, it's worth getting good advice and challenging the decision.

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