Parents who want to secure primary one catchment places at schools in East Renfrewshire will be able to submit an application online from the start of next month.

Those with children aged five between March 2023 and February 2024 are urged to register for either their local denominational or non-denominational school.

The application form will be available from December 1 by visiting eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/apply-for-p1.

Parents are asked to apply no later than January 20 to have the best chance of securing a place in their preferred school.

A council spokesperson said: "It is important that an application is made for residents’ preferred local catchment area school in the first instance, even if you plan to make a placing request for your child to attend another school or seek to defer your child’s start to school.

"We would ask you to apply for the local catchment school, even if you intend to educate your child privately or at home.

"Places are prioritised in cases of oversubscription by catchment pupils, in line with the council’s admissions arrangements.

"Families who are applying for a catchment place at a Roman Catholic school in the area are required to produce a Roman Catholic baptismal certificate.

"Priority is given to Roman Catholic baptised children if they live in the school catchment area only if there is an oversubscription of catchment applications. If this is the case, those children of a different or no faith not able to be placed in the local Roman Catholic school applied for will be considered for a place in their local non-denominational catchment school."

Parents will be advised on the documents, such as a child’s birth certificate, they need to upload as part of the application process.

Mark Ratter, East Renfrewshire's director of education, said: “This is the start of the journey for our next group of pupils joining our schools and we look forward to welcoming them through the doors next summer.

"Our online primary one application process is now well established and we look forward to continuing to build on this, as it provides a more convenient way for parents to apply for school places.”

Whilst the online process will be used by many, alternative arrangements are available for those unable to submit an application online. Further details are available by calling the council's education department.

Once all applications for children wishing to enrol at their local catchment schools have been processed, parents will receive written confirmation at the end of March to advise them of their child's P1 place.

While most children attend their local school, parents can choose to apply for a place in another school through a placing request.

Placing requests for the session beginning in August 2023 must be submitted by January 31 and this can be done online from December 1. Applications will be processed and responded to by the end of April 2023.

East Renfrewshire Council is proceeding with plans to introduce Gaelic Medium Primary Education (GMPE), starting with P1 children only, from August next year and applications for this can also be submitted online.

Gaelic provision is expected to be delivered at Thornliebank Primary, with the council's education committee due to make a decision on December 8.