PARENTS and carers of children due to start primary school or transfer to junior school in September 2027 are being encouraged to attend one of Thurrock Council's online briefing sessions about the admissions process.

Applications for Reception and junior school places open on 2 November 2026 and close on 15 January 2027. Parents of children born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023, as well as those whose children are in the final year of infant school, will need to submit an application during this period.

To help families understand the admissions process and get answers to any questions they may have, the council is hosting two online briefing sessions.

The sessions are:

• Tuesday 3 November 2026, 1pm to 2pm
• Tuesday 3 November 2026, 6:30pm to 7:30pm

Cllr Milena Bingley, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Children's Services, said: "Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions parents and carers make, and we want to ensure every family has the information they need to navigate the admissions process with confidence.

"Our online briefing sessions are a great opportunity to learn more about how school admissions work and ask any questions you may have. I would encourage anyone applying for a Reception or junior school place for September 2027 to join one of the sessions and make sure their application is submitted on time."

Parents and carers can apply online from 2 November 2026 through the Thurrock Council school admissions portal.

Applications received after the closing date of 15 January 2027 will be treated as late applications and processed after on-time applications, reducing the likelihood of securing a place at a preferred school.

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Full details about school admissions, key dates and links to join the online briefing sessions can be found on the Thurrock Council website.