When to apply, dates for offers, appeals and waiting lists for a new reception school place for 2025.
The important dates for new reception applications are:
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
| 01 November 2025 | Website opens for all applications for main round admission to a primary school from September 2026 |
| 15 January 2026 | The NATIONAL closing date for submission of Common Application Form and deadline for sending supplementary information forms to schools. Online applications will close at 23.59. |
| 03 February 2026 | LA will aim to exchange data with other LAs where parents have applied across LA boundaries |
| 03 February 2026 | LA will aim to send other admitting authorities details of applications for them to rank |
| 20 February 2026 | Foundation and VA schools and academies return ranked lists of pupils |
| 20 February 2026 | FINAL cut-off for taking new addresses into account for first round unless a school’s admission policy gives a different date |
| 20 March 2026 | Day when LA starts offer processing. The LA will inform other admitting authorities of provisional offers to be made to applicants residing in their area |
| 31 March 2026 | LA sends schools draft list of allocated pupils for them to check |
| 16 April 2026 | National Offer Day: Online applicants notified of allocation by email. Parents who have applied with an electronic form will have a letter emailed on the morning of allocation day. |
| 05 May 2026 | Deadline for parents to accept offer |
| 10 May 2026 | Closing date for second round applications |
| 23 May 2026 | Decisions on late applications |
| 31 May 2026 | Closing date for receipt of 1st round appeals to be heard before the end of the summer term |
| 09 June 2025 | Deadline for parents to accept offer for second round applications |
| June/July 2026 | Appeals for on time applications |
| 27 June 2026 | Closing date for receipt of 2nd round appeals |
| July/September 2026 | Appeals for late applications |
| 01 September 2026 | Term starts. Date when applications are treated as In Year Admissions |