Starting School in September 2014?

Do you have a child who will be starting school in September 2014? Cheshire West and Chester Council CWaC's policy is for children to start school the September following their 4th birthday. This means that children born between 1 September 2009 and 31 August 2010 will normally be admitted to school in September 2014. If you have a child or children born between these dates, you can now apply to CWaC for a school place.

You can either apply online or you can complete a paper application form and send it to School Admissions, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 1AH The online facility is available until midnight on the closing date of 15 January 2014. Paper applications must be received by the same date. It is very important that you submit your preferences by this date.

In applying for a place you can express up to three preferences for any English Authority School(s). To express a preference for a school in Wales, Scotland, Ireland or abroad you must contact the relevant authority directly. To apply for a place at an Independent (Private) School you must contact the school directly.

If your child's fifth birthday is between the months of September and December, then, if you wish it, you can ask for your child to delay starting school until January. If your child's birthday is between January and April, then you can ask for a delay until the start of the summer term, although most schools do not recommend this. However, you must still apply for a place by the 15 January 2014 deadline.

Full details of all CWaC schools which admit pupils at age 4 are contained in CWaC's "Starting School Information Booklet 2013-2014", available online. The booklet will tell you how your application will be dealt with, the criteria for allocating places at over-subscribed schools, and information about the appeals process and school transport.