You usually find out about primary school places on 16 April each year in England, if you applied by the January deadline.

What date do you find out about primary school places?

The key date (England)

For primary school reception places, the national offer day is normally 16 April , or the next working day if that falls on a weekend or bank holiday.

Local councils then send offers by email, online portal, or letter, depending on how you applied.

Many councils explicitly state that offers for 2026 entry will go out on Thursday 16 April 2026.

In practical terms: if you applied on time (by 15 January), you should expect to hear on or very close to 16 April.

How and when you’ll hear on the day

Most councils do something like this:

  • Online applicants get an email on offer day (typically during working hours).
  • Some areas also let you log in to an online admissions portal to see the result.
  • Paper applicants receive a letter sent on or just after offer day, so it may arrive a few days later.

The exact time on 16 April varies by council, so some parents see results first thing in the morning, others later in the day.

Mini “story-style” example

You apply for your child’s reception place by 15 January through your local council website.

You list three preferred schools, then wait while the council allocates places based on its admissions criteria.

On 16 April , an email pings into your inbox around lunchtime: it’s from the council, telling you which school your child has been offered.

If you’d applied on paper instead, you’d be checking the post over the next few days for the official letter.

Does the date ever differ?

  • In England, 16 April is treated as the standard national offer day for primary admissions.
  • If 16 April falls on a weekend or bank holiday, the offers move to the next working day.
  • Exact processes and timings can vary slightly by local authority , so it’s always worth checking your council’s admissions page for the current year.

Quick FAQ style recap

  • What date do you find out about primary school places?
    Normally 16 April (or the next working day).
  • Who tells you?
    Your local council , either by email, portal, or post.
  • What if I applied late?
    Late applicants are processed after on‑time ones, and you may hear later and be less likely to get a preferred school.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.