Primary school places
Applications have been processed. Offer emails were sent on Thursday 16 April.
You must apply for a primary school place if your child is:
- due to start primary or infant school (reception year)
- at infant school (year 2) and is due to start junior school (year 3)
- at primary school (year 2) and you want them to move to a junior school at the start of year 3.
Check the date your child can start school
What to do
Applications for transfer to primary school for both reception year and year 3 (junior school) in September 2026 opened on Friday 7 November 2025 and closed on Thursday 15 January 2026.
To help choose the schools to add to your application:
- read our advice about choosing a school
- find information about open days from the school's website or contact the school
- read our guide to primary admissions 2026 booklet (PDF, 2.9 MB)
- view the Kent School’s app for a map of all mainstream schools in Kent with accessibility information.
Applications for 2026
For children starting school in September 2026 applications for both reception year and year 3 (junior school) closed on Thursday 15 January 2026.
We process applications between 16 January and 15 April 2026.
If you have not applied and are a Kent resident, email kentonlineadmissions@kent.gov.uk with your child’s name, date of birth and full address. We will then advise you of the next steps.
If you have applied but your circumstances have changed and you need to amend your application email kentonlineadmissions@kent.gov.uk so we can help you.
Summer born children
If your child was born between 1 April and 31 August and you want them to defer starting school until the next academic year, read our information about summer born children.
Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) children
Most children with special educational needs and disabilities can attend mainstream schools, whether or not they have an education, health and care (EHC) plan.
If your child has an EHC plan, then their school placement will be arranged via the SEN Team.
Find out more about applying for a school place for your SEND child.
Additional information
You may need to fill in an additional form called a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) for some schools.
Contact the school(s) to obtain the form(s) and once completed return the form directly to them.
Free schools
There are no new free schools opening in 2026.
If you provided an email address on your application we emailed you on Thursday 16 April 2026 after 4pm to tell you which school you have been offered.
Or view your offer online from 5pm on Thursday 16 April 2026.
Offer emails will be sent to the email address you provided on your application.
We cannot guarantee the exact time you will receive your email, this will depend on your email service provider.
Due to data protection restrictions, we cannot send the offer to another email address without approval from the original email account. If you have changed email address, make sure you still have access to the original one to receive your offer. Or view your offer online.
If you need to reset your password you must use the email address you registered with.
Email kentonlineadmissions@kent.gov.uk if you have any questions.