Only 500 Kirklees families have missed out on a first-choice school place for their child.

Of the 5,456 applications for reception places at local primary, 4,959 were successful in getting their number one choice.

This represents 91%, which is a one per cent improvement on last year, and 2013 was slightly better than 2012 when only 89.1% were awarded places at their preferred school.

According to Kirklees Council, there are 185 children who will not be starting school at any of their top three preferences. The figures also show that there are 363 fewer youngsters who will be starting their school life this September, compared with last September.

The most over-subscribed school is Lindley CE (VA) Infant School, where the 120 places available have all been allocated, leaving 43 four and five-year-olds still on the waiting list.

These figures will increase pressure on Kirklees to provide more school places in this area of Huddersfield, particularly in light of the large housing estates which are currently being built nearby.

Parents can now submit their appeals to each school’s individual admission authority. In 2012, more than one in four appeals was successful.

Kirklees Council has strict limits on class numbers. Infant school classes with one teacher may not have more than 30 pupils.

However, in “limited exceptional circumstances,” additional children may be admitted. These children are called ‘excepted pupils’ and retain that status throughout infant school or until class numbers decrease to 30.

Exceptional circumstances are:

Children admitted outside the normal admissions round with statements of Special Educational Needs (SEN) specifying a school

Children whose twin or sibling from a multiple birth is admitted otherwise than as an excepted pupil

Children admitted because of a procedural error made by the admissions authority or local authority

Children who move into the area after the normal admissions round when there is no other available school within reasonable distance

Children of UK service personnel admitted outside the normal admissions round

Children who are normally taught in an SEN unit attached to the school, or registered at a special school who attend some infant classes within the mainstream school.

Children admitted after an independent appeals panel upholds an appeal.

Nationally England is facing a “growing crisis” in primary school places, it has been suggested, as new figures indicated that tens of thousands of children have missed out on their first choice this year.

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