PARENTS are reminded to get in applications for primary school places or face missing out on their preferred choice.

Dorset County Council said almost 80 per cent of applications for places at Dorset’s primary, junior or middle schools had already been sent to the school admissions team.

To date, the team has received more than 4,100 applications, but is said to be expecting approximately 1,100 more.

The council is now urging remaining parents to put in applications for their children before the January 15 deadline.

The deadline applies to children who are due to start school for the first time, or are moving from infant to junior school or first to middle school in September 2018.

Cllr Deborah Croney, county council cabinet member for education, learning and skills, said:

“It is heartening that so many parents have already applied for places for their children. But with the distractions of Christmas and the New Year, it's easy to forget these things, so we are reminding the remaining parents to put in their applications as soon as possible. It will give them the best chance of being offered a place at one of their preferred schools.”

Parents who apply on or before January 15 will be notified of the outcome of their applications on April 16, 2018. Any applications received on or after 16 January will not receive an outcome until the middle of May.

All the information about admissions, including an online application form, is available at dorsetforyou.gov.uk/school-admissions/apply-for-a-school-place, or families can call 01305 221060 for an application pack to be sent by post.