Applying for a primary school place
This guide provides supporting information when applying for a school place in Lincolnshire.
Application process
You should apply for a primary or infant school place if your child:
- is born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020
- is in year 2 at an infant school and requires a place in year 3 at a junior or primary school
- is in year 2 at a primary school and requires a place in year 3 at a junior school
As the admission authority, we must provide for the admission of all children in the September following their fourth birthday. We process these applications on the basis that most children will start school at the same time.
Children can start school at any time until they reach the compulsory school age. This is the term after the child turns five. For example, a child born in November will be compulsory school age in January.
You can request:
- to delay your child’s start date until later in the academic year but not after they reach compulsory school age
- your child takes up their place part-time until they reach compulsory school age
If you intend to delay starting school, you should discuss it with the school. The school will not hold the place if your child does not start within that academic year.
If you delay your child’s start until the following academic year, you will need to reapply for a place. You need to complete an in-term application during the summer term before starting school. The class may be full at this point, so any delay should be carefully considered.
Deferring admission to school is not the same as attending school out of normal school age.
By law, every child must be in education at the start of the term after their fifth birthday.
When to apply for a primary school place
The dates when you can apply for a primary school place are published on our apply for a school place page.
However, we will accept applications until 12 noon on 9 February 2024. After that deadline, we cannot process any new or change any existing applications. If an application is received after this time, it will be processed after national offer day.
Other local authorities may not operate an extended deadline. If you apply to schools outside Lincolnshire, that local authority decides whether to accept a late application.