If your child was born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016, they are due to start primary or infant school next September.  You can apply for their school place from Friday 1 November.

Parents must submit their applications by Wednesday 15 January and will find out their results in April 2020.

No places are guaranteed. You must apply for a place even if your child already has a place at the school’s nursery class or has a brother or sister at that school.

If you apply late, you are not likely to get a place at the school of your preference.

Councillor Evelyn Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement, said: “Whilst applying for your child’s first school place is an exciting time, it, it’s also important that you choose the right one for them. I would encourage all parents to think carefully and to use all six preferences.

“We have schools in the borough with 9 out of 10 schools rated good or outstanding and we try to make sure we give all of our young people the best start, and this starts at primary school.”

Barking and Dagenham is ranked first in London for numbers of reception children getting their preferred school, with 94 per cent being offered a place at their first preference school.

To apply for your child’s place online, visit the eadmissions website.

If you need additional help, or have any other questions, there will be walk in sessions every Tuesday at Dagenham Library and Thursday at Barking Library, from 9am to 4:30pm. These sessions run from 6 November to Tuesday 14 January.