Top primary choices

PARENTS in around a fifth of areas in England are finding it harder to get their child into their top choice of primary school, figures suggest.

In the last 12 months the proportion of families gaining their first preference, or one of their top three favoured primaries, has fallen.

The statistics, based on an analysis of government data, come just days before the deadline for families across the UK to apply for places for children due to start school this autumn.