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Thousands of Essex children offered preferred primary school place

Essex County Council announce more than 14,000 pupils who are due to start primary school in Essex this year have been offered their parent’s top preference of school.

Just over 16,000 parents in Essex will today (Thursday 16 April 2020) discover the outcome of their primary school place application, with those who applied online getting confirmation by email or via the council’s website.

The council has continued to invest in creating school places over the last year and 89.38 per cent of children due to start in Reception this year have been offered their parents’ first preference.

A further 6.34 per cent have been offered their second preference, meaning 95.72 per cent have been offered one of their top two preferences this year.

Cllr Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “I know that for a lot of parents the wait to find out about their child’s primary school place can be a nerve-wracking one and with the current situation we all find ourselves in, this particular year may have been all the more worrying for some.

“However, I am pleased that a high percentage of parents have received their first preference of school place and I hope this goes some way in providing a little reassurance at this uncertain time.

“One day school gates will re-open for all pupils and I know that there will be many children and young people who are eagerly awaiting this, just as much as our new starters are.”