CHILDREN in Gloucestershire starting school for the first time in September will find out where they are going on Thursday.

Parents of pupils starting primary or infant school in September 2015 will be allocated a school place from Gloucestershire County Council by the end of this Thursday.

They will then have until April 30 to return their reply form.

Those who applied online will receive an email after 9am confirming their allocation. All other parents and carers will receive a letter in the post.

Charlotte Jones from GCC said: "This is always a particularly stressful time for parents but our admissions and transfers team continue to work hard to ensure that as many pupils as possible get one of their preferences.

“Of the 6,966 children that have been allocated a primary school in Gloucestershire, 96 per cent have received one of their preferred places, and 88 per cent have been offered their first preference."

Cllr Paul McLain, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “This is a really exciting time in a young child’s life – the first step into formal education. I wish everyone well for their first day at school and I hope each and every young person in the county settles in well into their new schools.”

Parents and carers, who ask for their child's allocation to be reconsidered, will be placed on the waiting list for their preferred school(s). If places then become available, they will be allocated in strict accordance with the published admissions criteria for the school.

People are encouraged to keep their allocated place even if they plan to appeal to make sure that, whatever the outcome of the reconsideration, their child will have a place at a school in September.

The Admissions and Transfers Team will write to parents with the result of the reconsideration stage after May 15 2015. Parents who are still not satisfied with their allocated school will be advised of the appeals procedure.