When your child can start school
Children can start school in September following their fourth birthday. Children born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021 are entitled to a full-time school place from September 2025.
Children must start school in the term (January, Easter or September) after their fifth birthday.
Please see our Delayed or accelerated admission page for more information on deferred entry, part-time schooling and delayed admission for summer-born children.
Your address
The home address is very important, as school places are allocated based on the permanent home address of each child. A child’s permanent home address is where the child spends most of their time with parents or carers.
Documentary evidence of home ownership or suitable rental agreement may be required, together with proof of permanent residence at the property concerned. Places cannot be allocated based on an intended future address unless the house move can be confirmed through the formal exchange of contracts or the signing of a minimum of a 6-month formal tenancy agreement from a letting agency.
Private letting agreements may not be accepted as proof of residence. An address change due to a move to live with other family members or friends will not be considered until the move has taken place and you have given us suitable proof of residency. Proof that a move from the previous address has taken place may also be required, for example, proof of exchange of contracts, a tenancy agreement showing the end date of the tenancy or a notice to quit from the landlord or repossession notice. We reserve the right to seek more documentary evidence to support any claim of residence, which could include contacting the estate agent, solicitor, landlord or relevant professional. We may carry out home visits without prior notice to verify a child’s home address.
An address used for childcare arrangements cannot be used as a home address for the purpose of applying for a school place.
Proof of address for Voluntary Controlled and Community schools will not be required for traveller families where the address is confirmed by the Traveller Education Service. A foster carer will not be required to supply proof of address for a child placed with them by a local authority.
For admission allocation purposes, in most cases, the address that will be taken into consideration is the address at which the child is resident at the closing date or an address at which the child will be resident before the start of the new academic year in September 2024, providing the change of address is notified and evidence provided before the exemption deadline of 3 February 2025. However, own admission authority school’s arrangements may vary.
If you move out of an address before outcome day, the application will need to be processed on the new address. You must keep us informed of any address changes. Failure to do so may result in a school place being withdrawn. Fraudulent or misleading claims relating to the home address of a particular child may lead to the withdrawal of the offer of a school place.
State your catchment school as one of your preferences
If you would like your child to be considered for your catchment school, you will need to include it as one of your preferences. But this does not guarantee a place at this school. You can find your catchment school on our website.
Some schools and academies that are their own admission authority do not prioritise children living in the catchment area of the school in their over-subscription criteria. If you think you live in the catchment area of a school or academy, but the school or academy does not include the catchment area in their over-subscription criteria it is recommended that one of the preferences expressed is for the nearest school to your home address. However, this does not guarantee your child a place at this school. Please contact us if you are not sure which school is nearest.
If you choose a school that is not your designated transport area or nearest school, you are unlikely to be eligible for school travel assistance. It will be your responsibility to make sure your child can get to school. You can find more information on our School Travel Assistance page.
Apply to move to a primary school
If your child is in an infant or middle school and you wish to apply for your child to move to a primary school, please see our In Year School Admissions page. You will find advice on in-year admissions which are school moves outside of the usual school transfer cycle.
Does my child’s current preschool or school influence their next school place?
Priority is given in the local authority over-subscription criteria for out of catchment children who are transferring to junior or middle school and are attending the infant or first school within that school’s catchment area.
In most circumstances, your child’s current preschool will have no influence on the application for their school place but check the individual school or academy’s admission arrangements to be sure.
Applying for a church school on religious grounds
Confirmation of church attendance or any involvement with the work and worship of the church must be confirmed on a SIF and returned by the published deadline.
For own admission authority church schools, please see the individual school website for a definition of religious criteria and where to get a SIF if needed (see our glossary for definitions of the different types of schools). For catholic schools, you will often just need to provide a baptism certificate. You may not need to fill in a SIF .
If you have special reasons for wanting a place at a particular school
Places are allocated strictly according to the over-subscription criteria for that school or academy. Please check the individual school’s over-subscription criteria for details of how places are allocated.
If you do not need a place at a Somerset school or academy
If you are moving away or making alternative arrangements for your child’s education, such as an independent school or home education, please email schooladmissions@somerset.gov.uk as soon as possible so that we can update your child’s record.
If your child will be attending an independent school, please include the name of the school.
If you are considering a place at an independent school, you must make your application directly to the school concerned. For more information, please contact the Independent Schools Council.
If you are moving out of Somerset, please provide your child’s new address.
You can find information about home education on our Somerset Elective home education page.