LUDLOW families whose children are eligible to start primary school this September are being urged to apply for a place as soon as possible.

Of the 3,000 children in the Shropshire Council area eligible to start reception level education in September, only 2,676 applications were received by the 15 January deadline, a Shropshire Council spokesperson said.

This leaves 324 eligible children, around 10 per cent of the total, whose families have either not yet applied or haven’t advised the council if they will be home or privately educating their child which would mean they would not need to apply.

Kirstie Hurst-Knight, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children and education, said:

“We urge all families with a child eligible to start reception class this September to submit their online application as soon as possible, or notify us if they will instead be home or privately educating them.

“It’s very  important to remember that If you don’t make an online application, your child will not be allocated a school place.”