Applying for a school place for September 2025

IMPORTANT INFORMATION Admission to Reception Classes September 2025

If your child is due to start school in September 2025, you need to apply for admission to reception.

Norfolk County Council opened their online application portal on 23rd September 2024. It closes on 15th January 2025. 

If you cannot apply online, you can request a paper application form using our general enquiry form.

When children start school

Most children start school in the September after their fourth birthday.

You need to apply for admission to reception for September 2024 if your child was born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021.

You must apply for a reception class place even if your child currently goes to a nursery class at a school. Going to a nursery attached to a school does not increase your chances of getting a reception class place at that school.

If you want your child to have a delayed start, you still need to apply for a reception class place at the same time as everyone else.

When you get your school offer

If you apply for admission to reception class for September 2025, we will offer you a school place on 16 April 2025.

• If you apply online, you will be able to see the offer in your admissions account online from 8.30am on 16 April 2025. Norfolk County Council (NCC) will also send you the offer by email.

• If you complete a paper application form, NCC will send your school offer by post. They send offer letters by second-class post on 16 April 2025

NCC will tell the headteacher of the school that your child has a place. The school will contact you with further information.

Some schools need you to complete an acceptance form. They will send you this form with their welcome pack.

The first day of autumn term 2025 is Wednesday, 3rd September. Your child should go to school on that day unless the school tells you otherwise.

If you are not offered a place at one of your preferred schools

If NCC are unable to offer your child a place at one of your preferred schools, they will offer a place at an alternative school. This will be at the nearest school to your home address with an available place.

Waiting lists

If NCC don’t offer your child a place at one of your preferred schools, they will add their name to waiting list for that school in case a place becomes available. They will keep their name on the waiting list until 31 December 2025.