MORE than 500 families have missed out on every primary school they applied for their children to go to.

Just over three per cent of parents will receive letters telling them their children won’t be going to any of the four preferences they submitted and have instead been assigned to the next nearest school.

For most of the 16,500 families across Essex waiting to find out the letters in the post, or e-mails in the basket, will contain welcome news.

About 87 per cent got their first choice - or 17 in every 20 children.

Another almost seven per cent got their second choice.

Chris Kiernan, the interim director for commissioning education at Essex County Council, said: “ I am delighted we have been able to offer the majority of children their parents’ first preference primary school, despite the growing pressure on places.

“This achievement is a further demonstration of the continued investment we are making in creating additional primary school places, as well as the hard work and dedication of schools and admissions staff.

“I am well aware that many parents will have been waiting nervously ahead of primary offer day, but I hope they will be pleased with the outcome and can now look forward to their children starting school for the very first time in September.”

For hundreds they will now face long journeys and difficult arrangements and the situation is expected to get worse in the coming years.

Despite receiving £137.7million to create new places, including an extra £41.4million due to the population boom, there are still not enough school places for the number of pupils who will need them in the coming years.

About 5,000 extra places are needed, with 3,000 still to find, at a cost of £167million.

Many new schools will have to be built with existing ones already full.