Parents are being urged by Dorset County Council to get in their applications for primary school places or face missing out on their preferred choice.

The council said 760 expected applications haven’t yet been received – and the deadline is Monday 15 January. The deadline applies to children who are due to start school for the first time, or are moving from infant to junior school or first to middle school in September 2018.

Data shows that the majority of the missing applications are for children who are starting school for the first time (532), or going from first to middle (201).

Parents who apply on or before 15 January will be notified of the outcome of their applications on 16 April, 2018. Any applications received on or after 16 January will not receive an outcome until mid-May.

All the information about admissions, including an online application form, is available at:

www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/school-admissions/apply-for-a-school-place.

Or families can call 01305 221060 for an application pack to be sent by post.