Families in England to find out primary places

PARENTS waiting to hear whether their child has secured a place at their first choice of primary school are likely to experience heightened feelings of anxiety due to the pandemic, school leaders say.

Hundreds of thousands of families across England are finding out what primary school their child will be joining this autumn, on what is commonly known as National Offer Day.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the school leaders’ union NAHT, said many families applying for places for September 2021 will have been unable to visit the school in person due to Covid-19.

He said: “It is vital that no child going through the primary admissions process this year should be disadvantaged. Support must be in place for families to navigate what can be a daunting process.

“For those families not getting their first choice of school, the appeals process will be going ahead, albeit virtually. This process must be as robust as ever and be made clear to parents through effective communication and advocacy, where required.”

Mr Whiteman added: “This can be an anxious time for families. Choosing the right school and securing a place there is a huge moment in a child’s life. And of course, these feelings of anxiety will only be heightened by the unique circumstances caused by coronavirus.

“Schools have gone to great lengths to find innovative solutions so that parents can make informed choices, but the reality is that in many instances families could be applying for schools they simply haven’t been able to visit in person.”

England’s school system has been under pressure due to a rise in the school-age population. This has been fuelled by a spike in the birth rate in the early 2000s that has made its way through primary schools and is moving into secondary schools.

Official data shows that, last year, 90.2% of pupils were offered their first choice of primary school - which was down slightly on 90.6% in 2019.

Last year, the Department for Education (DfE) changed its rules amid the pandemic so that parents unhappy with their school place would not have to make an appeal in person.

The temporary change has been extended until the end of September 2021 due to coronavirus restrictions.

Appeal panel hearings will be able to take place “either in person, by telephone, video conference or through a paper-based appeal”.

The Good Schools Guide has warned there could be delays to appeals processes amid the pandemic. Advice on its website says: “It is also possible appeals deadlines are delayed to accommodate inevitable difficulties.”

The guidance adds that appeals for reception places “can only occasionally be won on grounds other than technical, procedural grounds”.

But it says: “The coronavirus school shutdown made clear how crucial a role parents can play in their children’s education. It’s worth remembering that especially in the early years of school, a parent’s input will go a long way to cover for any deficiencies in the school.

“Reading with your child every night, keeping them supplied with books, taking them to stimulating places (if possible), chatting over the dinner table, encouraging their curiosity will all do a great deal to promote your child’s learning.”