MORE than 200 children meant to start primary school in September were not offered a place even though their parents applied on time.
With only two months to go before the start of the new school year, Nottingham City Council is scrambling to find places.
The news comes as the council is working to increase the number of primary places in the city.
It has already spent millions of pounds on increasing capacity at Middleton Primary and Southwold Primary, in Wollaton, and Ambleside and Rosslyn Park, in Aspley. And more work is likely to create further spaces.
But Freedom of Information figures seen by the Post show that as of June 6, 224 children didn't have an offer of a place. This was out of 3,716 applications which were received by the deadline in January. Of those applications, 3,157 parents were given their first choice.
Councillor David Mellen, portfolio holder for children's services at the city council, said: "We're pleased that more parents are gaining their first preference places. A key reason for this is the significant investment we have made in recent years to increase school capacity, which has created 1,600 extra places.
"While the vast majority of parents do get their first-choice place, it is of course a significant issue for the small number who don't and we will always do our utmost to work with them and find an acceptable solution."
The figure of 224 without an offer is an increase of 52 per cent on 2010, though in that year there were only 2,874 applications received in time.
As a local education authority, the council is responsible for finding school places.
Parents can put up to six primary schools on their list of preferences.
If the council is unable to grant any, it must find an alternative and offer it to the parents.
Parents sometimes accept the offer but others reject it for a number of reasons, such as distance from their home.
At the end of September 2011, the Post reported that 100 children were still without a primary school almost a month into the term.
There is nothing to say so many will be without a place next term but one of the parents affected previously is concerned little has been done.
Kirsty Brennan lives in Aspley but eventually had to send son Tae-Jhuan Brennan-Robinson to Seagrave Primary School, Strelley.
She is concerned she will face difficulties when her younger son, Davantae, three, starts school in September 2014.
She said: "It seems like nothing has changed, which is frustrating.
"I'm expecting to have difficulty getting Davantae into a school as well. More places really need to be opened up."
Parents without a place can call the council admissions team on 0115 841 5568 or e-mail school.admissions@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
Are you still waiting for your child to be offered a school place? E-mail marcus.boocock@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk
