Parents and carers with children due to start primary school in North Yorkshire in September next year can apply for their places now.

Primary applications for children born between September 1, 2019, and August 31, 2020, must be submitted by January 15, 2024, and it is advised to list up to five schools in order of preference.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said: “We know that choosing the correct primary school for families is important, which is why we have included lots of information about the application process and details about the county’s schools on our website.

“For a child to be allocated a school place it is crucial that you make an application to the local authority where you live and the deadline to apply is January 15, 2024.

“If parents or carers apply after the deadline, this could affect the allocation of your child’s school place.

“Please remember, you still have to apply for a school place if your child is attending a nursery or has a sibling within the primary school you want them to go to.”

All the information on North Yorkshire primary schools is available at www.northyorks.gov.uk/admissions online.

Allocated school places will be announced on National Offer Day, which is April 16, 2024. This year, 96 per cent of families of primary age children in North Yorkshire secured their first choice of school.

Anyone requiring further information and advice about the process is asked to contact school admissions via email at schooladmissions@northyorks.gov.uk or by calling 01609 533679.