Parents can now apply for their child’s infant, junior or primary school place for September 2022.

Applications for children who were born between September 1 2017 and August 31 2018 opened yesterday (November 8) and will close at midnight on January 15.

Parents can also apply during the same period for junior school places for children born between September 1 2014 and August 31 2015 who are currently in Year 2 at an infant school and will transfer on to other schools in September 2022.

The easiest and quickest way is to apply online.

Apply for an infant, primary or junior school place here: https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/education/schools/school-places/apply-for-a-school-place.aspx

Cabinet member for education, Cllr Alex Dale, said: “We’re now inviting parents to apply for their child’s infant, junior or primary school place for September 2022.

“With the run up to Christmas, we’re urging parents to consider all of their options early on and apply before the deadline on Saturday 15 January 2022.

“Choosing the right school is a very important decision in a child’s life and parents who miss the deadline are less likely to get a place for their child at their preferred school which could mean having to travel further or their child not getting into the same school as their friends.”

Applying online is quick and easy and allows parents to make changes to their application at any point up to the closing date. Anyone who applies online will receive an email to confirm their application has been received.

When completing the application form parents will be asked to list, in order of preference, the three schools they would most like their child to go to.

Parents who do not have access to the internet can Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190 to apply between 8am and 6pm on weekdays and 9.30am and 4pm on Saturdays.

Parents unable to access the online or telephone application services should email admissions.transport@derbyshire.gov.uk or tel: 01629 537479.

Although parents have a legal right to express preferences they have no automatic right to a place at any particular school.

Applications submitted to us after the deadline will not be considered until places have been allocated to those children whose parents did return their form on time.

Any parents who are refused a place for their child have a right of appeal to an independent panel.