NEARLY nine in ten children starting primary education this summer will be going to their parents’ school of choice.

Of the 16,000 parents receiving notification of places, 86.72 per cent have been given their top choice while 6.83 per cent got their second.

Just 2.45 per cent of parents were offered their third preference school and 1 per cent their fourth choice.

Ray Gooding, Essex county councillor responsible for education and lifelong learning, said: “I am sure many parents will be delighted with the outcome.

“The fact that despite pressures on primary school places we have maintained high numbers of parents being offered their first preference school, highlights the council’s work to create the necessary places.

“To respond to population increases we have commissioned almost 600 more reception places for September 2014 and are committed to delivering another 300 primary places by September 2015.”