THE LOCAL authority is reminding parents that they must apply for a primary school place in Gloucestershire.

According to Gloucestershire County Council, every year it has parents who do not put in an application form for their child as they believe they do not need to do so, having put their child’s name down at the school of their choice.

Others do not apply as they think that their child will be automatically admitted to the school if their older brother and/or sister attends or to the school that the child’s nursery or pre-school is linked to.

But Cllr Paul McLain, cabinet member for children and young people and commissioning, warned parents that it is vital to apply for a place for their child and to use their preferences.

An application must be made to the county council for every child starting school in September 2014 by January 15 2014.

Parents can apply online at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/startingprimary or by completing a paper form which can be downloaded from the same site or requested from the county council’s Admissions & Transfer Team on 01452 425407.

Full information on the admissions process and information about individual schools is available in School Admission Guidance and Primary School Information booklets online.

These are also available from individual schools. It is important for parents to read this information before applying for a school place.

Parents are encouraged to list four preferred schools on their form as school places cannot be guaranteed – failing to include second, third and fourth choices could lead to children being allocated school places parents would not have chosen.