MORE than 98 per cent of Somerset children were offered a primary school place at one of their top three choices, according to the County Council’s latest admission figures.

Just over 95 per cent of these applicants received an offer from their first choice. This figure is up from the 93.07 per cent who received their first choice last year.

Anyone who applied for a place online will receive the result by today (April 16). Those who applied using paper forms will find out by post in the next few days.

The admissions team is asking families not to contact their allocated schools at this time and to instead wait for the school to get in touch with them.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the school leaders’ union NAHT, said many families have been unable to visit the school in person due to lockdown restrictions.

He added: “It is vital that no child going through the primary admissions process this year should be disadvantaged. Support must be in place for families to navigate what can be a daunting process.

“For those families not getting their first choice of school, the appeals process will be going ahead, albeit virtually.”

Last year, the Department for Education (DfE) changed its rules amid the pandemic so that parents unhappy with their school place would not have to make an appeal in person. This temporary change has now been extended until the end of September in line with coronavirus restrictions.

More information about appealing decisions can be found on the government website.