Primary school places
Applications open Friday 7 November 2025 and close Thursday 15 January 2026.
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 will open Friday 7 November 2025 and close 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, 5.5 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) open on Friday 7 November 2025.
Applications close on Thursday 15 January 2026.
You can apply for up to 3 schools.
- Put the schools in order of preference.
- It’s in your best interest to list 3 schools.
- Naming only one school does not guarantee your child a place at that school or give your child priority for a place over another child.
- You are not able to name the same school more than once.
To apply for a school outside of Kent, name the school in your application with your other preferences. Your application details will be passed on to the relevant authority for processing.
We process applications between 16 January 2025 and 15 April 2026.
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 provide an email address on your application we will email 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.