Reception admissions

How will my application be considered?

Once an application is received by the Local Authority, a process will be applied:

• details on the application will be checked against any data already held by the Local authority. If we find a discrepancy between the data stated on the application and the data held verification may be required
• if you indicate that there is a sibling already attending the preferred school on your application and the address we hold for the sibling is different to the address stated on the application, a ‘sibling’ criteria will not be assigned. Ensure that the school holds the most up to date information to avoid any complications
• preferences received for Aided Schools, Academies and Free Schools will be forwarded to the relevant admission authority together with any additional information for their consideration
• preferences for other English Local Authority Schools will be forwarded to the relevant authority for their consideration
• a criteria is assigned for each preference by the relevant admission authority based on the information stated on your application. Please see Section 3 for the oversubscription criteria for each school

What happens if I need to amend my application?

If your circumstances change and you need to amend the schools you have named on your application or make any other changes after you have submitted your application, providing it is before the closing date of 15 January 2026 you will need to write to us stating your reasons for your change of preferences. If you make any changes to your online application after you have submitted it, this will automatically withdraw your previous application. You must press the submit button again to ensure your amended application is received.

Please note: any changes made after the closing date will result in your application being treated as a late application, unless we accept that there is a genuine reason for the change and providing it is made before 20 February 2026, e.g. a recent house move, which must be stated at the time of the application. For further details please see the information on moving house on our general information page.

When will I know the outcome of my on time application and how will I be notified?

The National offer day for pupils starting primary schools in England for September 2026 is 16 April 2026.

We will notify applicants for children resident in Cheshire West and Chester and applicants for children resident outside England who have applied direct to Cheshire West and Chester Council.

For children resident in another English authority, the child’s home authority will notify the applicants of their outcome, even if the schools applied for is within Cheshire West and Chester.

Online applicants can log in to their accounts after 12.30am on 16 April 2026 to view the outcome of their application.

Where we have an email address, an email will be sent during the course of the day to confirm the application outcome.

Applicants who have applied using a paper application and have not provided an email address, a letter will be posted out on 16 April 2026.

Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan will not receive their outcome by email or letter from the Admissions Team as the school allocated will be named in the plan.

Children residing in Cheshire West and Chester

If your child is resident in Cheshire West and Chester and we are unable to offer any of the preferences stated on your application, we will allocate a place at the next nearest school with a place available. Distances are calculated in a straight line from the centrally plotted Basic Land and Property Unit point (BLPU) of the child’s home address to the centrally plotted BLPU point of the school as defined by Local Land and Property Gazetteer. This will not affect your right of appeal.

Children who do not reside in Cheshire West and Chester

Where an application has been received for a child resident in another Council area and a place cannot be offered at any of the preferences for a Cheshire West and Chester school, we will not allocate a place.

Voluntary (church aided) school applications

If you name a church aided schools as a preference they may request written confirmation of religious commitment, e.g. by means of a letter of support from a church minister or for admission to Catholic schools, evidence of baptism.