PARENTS are being urged to make sure they apply for school places online and in time.

Whether a child is starting school for the first time, or transferring to their next school, applications need to be made through www.somerset.gov.uk/admissions.

The deadline for parents to submit applications for children moving from primary to secondary school or middle to upper school in September 2020 is October 31.

For primary school admissions – whether starting school for the first time or moving from infant to junior and first to middle schools – the deadline is January 15.

Parents and guardians need to choose three preferred schools.

Although ‘chaser’ texts and letters will be sent to parents on the council’s database who have not yet applied, the responsibility for getting applications in on time lies with parents and guardians.

Cllr Faye Purbrick, cabinet member for education and transformation, said: “At this time of year many parents and their children will be considering attending open days to find out more about their local schools. This can help them decide where they would like to attend next and which three schools they will include in their application.

“It’s an important decision and I would urge everyone to submit three preferences, including their local school as one of those preferences. In recent years, some applications have only included one preference for a non-local school.

“If demand is high for that single school it can mean that students and parents have to wait longer for a confirmed placement at a different school, making the experience all together more stressful.”