School admissions overview

School starting age

Children reach compulsory school age at the start of the term after their 5th birthday. Most children start school in the September after they are 4.

If your child was born between the start of April and the end of August, you can ask to delay starting school until the September after they are 5. You should contact us or your home local authority for advice.

If a school agrees to take your child late, this does not guarantee you a place. You will still need to make a reception application the following year.

Before you decide to delay school start for your child, it is a good idea to think about how the delay may affect the child later - for example, they will move up to secondary school later than other children of the same age.

If your child was born before April but you do not think they will be ready for school by the September after they are 5, you should discuss options with your preferred school(s).

What school year your child is in

Schools in Cheshire East normally teach children in the year group for their age range.

Date of birth and school year - primary schools

Date of birth and school year -  secondary schools

Teaching children out of their age group

In exceptional circumstances, you can ask for your child to be taught in a different year group.

Occasionally, schools may decide that a child should move up to secondary school early or stay at primary school longer. You should discuss these arrangements with the schools concerned.

Which children are eligible to go to English state schools

Any child who is resident in England can go to a state-funded school. Children who are moving here from overseas can apply before they move.

Who can apply for a school place for a child

You can apply for a place for a child if the law counts you as a parent of the child. This includes foster parents and people with parental responsibility. See GOV.UK - who is a parent. 

Parents with shared responsibility

We can only process one application and make one offer for each child. If you share responsibility with another parent you should agree between you who will apply. 

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If a school has more applications than places, then where a child lives (residency) usually counts towards whether they get a place. 

Each school's own admission policy says how the school uses residency-related criteria when allocating places. Some schools use catchment areas.

Residency is normally where the child lives on the date of application. 

We may check addresses against other council records such as Council Tax. We may also ask you to give proof of where the child lives. 

Residency when a child spends time at two addresses

Where a child spends time at two addresses, the place of residency is where the child wakes up most often between Monday and Friday. You must give full details when you apply.

If the situation is not clear or the child spends time equally with both parents, we will normally use the address at which Child Benefit is claimed. Where neither parent claims Child Benefit, we will use the address at which the child is registered with a GP.

Residency for children of service personnel and crown servants

For service personnel with a confirmed posting to Cheshire East and crown servants returning from abroad, we can take the new address as the child's residency in advance of the move. 

Email us with official written confirmation of the new address and the date of the move. We will accept a unit postal or quartering area address if you do not yet have a permanent address. 

School places for children moving on from nursery or pre-school

Children who go to a nursery or pre-school based at a school do not get a guaranteed place at the school. You must still make a reception application.

Applying for a school place for a child with special educational needs or disabilities

We educate most children in their local mainstream school.

If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) that names a school for them, the school must give them a place. You do not need to apply.  

If your child does not have an EHCP, you will need to apply in the normal way.

Find out more about education for children with special educational needs and disability in Cheshire East

Get advice from Cheshire East Information Advice and Support