School starter information
Children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 are eligible to start primary/infant school in September 2026.
Applications open on 1 September 2025, with a national deadline of 15 January 2026. Offers are released on 16 April 2026, and parents can defer entry until the compulsory school age.
Key Dates for 2026 School Starters (Primary/Infants):
- 1 September 2025: Application process opens; families can visit schools.
- 15 January 2026: Deadline to submit applications (11:59 PM).
- 16 April 2026: National Offer Day.
- 30 April 2026: Deadline to accept or refuse the offered place.
- September 2026: Children start school.
After you get your school offer
To help you understand the 2026 intake, after the relevant offer day you'll find details below about the total number of places offered, the last criteria/category and furthest distance offered within that criteria/category for each school in West Sussex.
If you did not get the school place you wanted, your child will be placed on a waiting list and you may want to appeal. For more information on the Appeals process, please visit the link below :
We also have a useful guide for school starters, which you can download here :