PARENTS and carers with children due to start primary school in Skipton and Craven in September next year can apply for their places now.

Primary applications for children born between September 1, 2020, and August 31, 2021, must be submitted to North Yorkshire County Council by January 15, 2025, and it is advised to list up to five schools in order of preference.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said: “We know choosing the correct primary school for families is important, which is why we have included lots of information about the application process and details about the county’s schools on our website.

“For a child to be allocated a school place it is crucial that you make an application to the local authority where you live and the deadline to apply is January 15, 2025.

“If parents or carers apply after the deadline, this could affect the allocation of your child’s school place.”

Allocated school places will be announced on National Offer Day, which is April 16, 2025.

This year, 96 per cent of families of primary age children in North Yorkshire secured their first choice of school.

For more information and advice about the process contact school admissions officers via email at schooladmissions@northyorks.gov.uk or by calling 01609 533679 or visit northyorks.gov.uk/education-and-learning/school-admissions/finding-school