Primary school application deadline approaches

Parents and carers have until Wednesday 15 January 2025 to submit an application to secure their child’s place at a primary, infant or junior school for September 2025. Applications should be made for children born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021 who are due to start primary school from September 2025.
Published: 06 Jan 2025

An application for a full-time school place must be made even if a child is already attending a nursery class in an infant or primary school, a pre-school or a family hub next to a school site.

To have the best chance of securing a place at their preferred school, parents and carers need to apply for a school place by the closing date of 15 January 2025. It is important that parents and carers consider how they will get their child to and from school before making a school application. We also recommend applying for more than one school and up to three schools can be listed in order of preference.
Councillor Andrew Reid, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and SEND
Councillor Andrew Reid, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and SEND

If you are planning to move house, or you think your circumstances may change before September, it is still essential to make an application on time using the child’s current address. Further information to help parents and carers with this process is available at www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissions.

Applications should be made online as this will mean parents and carers will receive a confirmation of their application. They can then log onto the online service on the National Offer Day (Wednesday 16 April 2025) to see their school place offer and they will also be sent an email to confirm this offer on the same day.

If a parent or carer is unable to apply online then they should complete a paper application (CAF1), however these cannot be acknowledged, so it is suggested parents and carers obtain proof of postage. For those who completed paper applications, offer letters will be sent out by second class post on the National Offer Day.

School Travel eligibility is based on a child attending their nearest suitable school that would have had a place available. This might not be the catchment area school. To find out more about SCC’s school travel policy please visit www.suffolkonboard.com/schooltravel.

Applications can be made at www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissions, where further advice and guidance is also available. Alternatively, parents and carers can call 0345 600 0981 for a paper application (CAF1).

Last year, Suffolk County Council offered 96.5% of children a place at the primary school their parent or carer listed as their first preference when they applied on time. If parents and carers do not apply by the closing date, their application may not be dealt with until after places have been offered to those who applied on time.