Primary school places announced this week - help available if you don’t get your first choice

Later this week, families will find out what primary school spot their child has been offered. For many, it’s an exciting moment. But not everyone gets their top spot.

If you child hasn’t been offered your first-choice school, there’s support available. Plus, if you’re worried about costs related to transport and uniforms, you could be eligible for help. We outline all of this below.

When will primary school places be announced?

Primary school offer day is Thursday 16 April 2026 in England. You’ll usually be contacted via email on the day, but if you have an online school admissions account, you can check there as well.

What if my child didn’t get our first choice school?

There’s steps you can take if your child didn’t get your first choice school. Here’s what to do.

Accept the place you’ve been offered

You should accept the school place you’ve been offered by the deadline which will be outlined in the offer you receive. Accepting the place does not affect appeals or waiting lists, but if you don’t accept it, your child could be left without a school place.

Can I appeal the decision?

You have the legal right to appeal if your child was refused a place at a school you applied for. However, you’ll need to gather evidence to present a case before an independent appeals panel.

The panel will decide whether the school followed its admissions rules correctly and whether your reasons for wanting the school outweigh the school’s reasons.

You must be given at least 20 school days to make an appeal from the date you receive the decision letter.

Your appeal will be upheld if the admissions rules were not properly followed, or your reasons clearly outweigh the school’s reasons for refusing another place.

Your local council will explain how to appeal and what information you can send.

What about waiting lists?

If a school is full, you can ask for your child’s name to be added to its waiting list. You can join a waiting list even if you’ve accepted another school place. Waiting lists are ordered using the school’s admissions rules, not by who joined first.

If a place becomes available:

• You’ll be sent a formal offer

• You can accept it even if your child has already started at a different school

Contact the school or your local council to join a waiting list.

Can we get free school transport if the school is far away?

If the school spot you’ve been offered is too far away for your child to get to school, you might get free school transport or help with travel costs.

However, there are clear distance rules. Your child may qualify if:

• They are under 8 and the school is more than 2 miles away

• They are 8 or over and the school is more than 3 miles away

Children may also qualify if:

• There is no safe walking route, or

• They can't walk due to a disability, special educational needs, or mobility problems

Extra help with transport for families on a low income

Your child could also be eligible for free transport if they can get free school meals.

This may apply if your child is:

• Aged 8 to 11, goes to their nearest school, and it is at least 2 miles away

• Aged 11 to 16, goes to a school 2 to 6 miles away, and it’s one of their three nearest suitable schools

• Aged 11 to 16, goes to a school 2 to 15 miles away because of your religion or beliefs

Rules can vary, so check with your local council’s school transport team.

What other support could we get?

Starting primary school comes with lots of extra costs, but there’s support available. So whether you got your top school spot or you’re on a waiting list, it’s worth checking if you’re eligible for extra help.

Free school meals

All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 in England get free school meals, whatever your income. That makes the transition to primary school that little bit easier.

Free breakfast clubs

Some primary schools also offer free breakfast clubs. These are usually 30‑minute sessions before school, where children get a free breakfast. The idea is to help children start every day fed, settled and ready to learn.

Schools that have joined the programme will contact families directly to explain whether they are taking part, and how to sign up.

The programme focuses on schools in more disadvantaged areas, but also includes schools of different sizes, types and locations across England.

The government plans to add another 2,000 schools to the scheme between April 2026 and March 2027, so your school might be part of that expansion.

Help with school uniforms

Uniform costs can add up quickly, but there are new laws in place to support parents.

From September 2026, schools in England should not require families to buy more than 3 branded items of uniform, or 4 items at secondary or middle schools if one of them is a tie

Schools should also make second‑hand uniforms available and share details of these on their website

If you’re struggling to afford school uniform or PE kit, contact the headteacher to find out what support is available.

Your local council may also offer help, such as uniform grants or vouchers, so it's worth getting in touch if you're struggling.