Starting primary school

This page relates to children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022. If your child's date of birth does not fall between these dates see our where to start page.

The page is about the admissions process to apply for your child to start Primary School, Reception from September 2026.

Application process now closed

The application process was open from 5 November 2025 to 15 January 2026. Any application submitted now will be considered late.

Make a late application 

Make sure you read all the information below before completing your application.

This process is for Bracknell Forest residents only. If you are not a Bracknell Forest resident, you must apply to your home local authority. This applies no matter what school you wish to apply for.

The admissions process to apply to start Reception from September 2026 closed on 15 January 2026.

Where it can be reasonably assumed that an application could have been made by the closing date, the application will be considered as late. It will be processed in the second round of admissions which begins on 7 May 2026.

Before applying, you must read The Guide to Primary Education 2026 to 2027. When you submit your application, you are confirming that you have read and understood this guide.

If you are considering schools outside Bracknell Forest, you must read the admissions arrangements for the relevant school.

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To make a late application, fill in our online form.

Make a late application for Reception 2026

Supporting documents

These must be emailed to school.admissions@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.

Birth certificates and proof address

Birth certificates and proof of address documents must be submitted with your application to Bracknell Forest School Admissions.

Do not send birth certificates and proof of address documents to schools or other local authorities.

Supplementary forms for Bracknell Forest schools

Bracknell Forest School Admissions will forward documents to Bracknell Forest schools if they are part of the admission arrangements (for example, social and medical forms). 

The forms below are the supplementary forms for Bracknell Forest schools.

Supplementary forms for schools outside Bracknell Forest

You must send any documents which are part of their admission arrangements directly to the admission authority. Bracknell Forest School Admissions will not send these to schools outside Bracknell Forest.

This does not apply to birth certificates and proof of address documents. These are only to be sent to Bracknell Forest School Admissions.

It is your responsibility to make sure you have read the relevant admission arrangements and submitted any additional information required directly to that admission authority.

What happens next

After submitting your application

Make sure all your supporting documents are submitted before the closing date. 

Check your emails regularly. School Admissions may contact you for more information to verify your application.

Receiving your offer

You will receive your offer of a school place by email on Thursday 16 April 2026.

School Admissions will not confirm offers over the phone.

After receiving your offer

When you receive your offer, you need to finalise your application by accepting or refusing the school place offered. This must be done by Thursday 30 April 2026. Failure to do so may result in the school place offered being withdrawn.

More details will be provided with your offer.

After responding to your offer

When we have received responses from all our residents and have co-ordinated with other local authorities, information will begin to be sent to schools.

Schools will begin to make contact to arrange your child's start.

After submitting your application

Make sure all your supporting documents are submitted alongside your application. Check your emails regularly. School Admissions may contact you for more information to verify your application.

Receiving your offer

If you have applied before Thursday 30 April 2026, your outcome letter will be sent to you shortly after Thursday 7 May 2026. 

School Admissions will not confirm offers over the phone.

After receiving your offer

When you receive your offer, you need to finalise your application by accepting or refusing the school place offered. More details will be provided with your offer.

Failure to refuse or accept your offer may result in the school place offered being withdrawn.

After responding to your offer

When we have received responses from all our residents and have co-ordinated with other local authorities, information will begin to be sent to schools.

Schools will begin to make contact to arrange your child's start.

Contact information

School Admissions team

Email: school.admissions@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

Phone: 01344 354023 from 8:30am to midday