PARENTS in Runcorn and Widnes are finding out this morning whether their child got into their top choice of primary school to begin reception class in September.

On what has become known as national offer day for primary schools, hundreds of parents will receive emails confirming whether they have been offered a place at their first-choice school.

Last year, 97.2 per cent of four-year-olds in England were offered a place at one of their top three primary schools.

Nationally, around half a million families will receive emails today and letters later in the week telling them which primary school is offering a place for their child.

Some parents go on to lodge appeals in a last-ditch attempt to secure a place at their first choice of school.

Halton Council has confirmed that 1,350, 91.4 per cent, got their first choice of primary school.

Figures show that 84, 5.7 per cent received their second choice and 17 infants, 1.2 per cent, were offered their third choice.

Altogether, the council received 1,471 applications for places from familes across Runcorn and Widnes.

Every child was allocated a school.