Two Burnham-on-Crouch couples have spoken of their distress at failing to secure any of their stated primary school choices for their children – and feel they are being forced to send their little ones out of town for their education.

Essex County Council (ECC) – which last week said that nearly 90 per cent of parents in the Essex county area had received their first-choice place – has said it does not have data broken down to show the percentage of parents in Burnham-on-Crouch who were given their first choice.

The council has also said that it has no current plans to review primary school provision in the Dengie Peninsula.

In both cases, the children are currently at Treetops Pre-School, based on site at Burnham-on-Crouch Primary School, Dunkirk Road, and in walking distance of their homes.

Both families selected Burnham on Crouch Primary as their first choice, and St Mary's C of E Primary School on Marsh Road as their second choice. Both schools being within walking distance from each of the family homes.

However, in both cases the youngsters have been allocated places at Southminster C of E Primary School in Burnham Road, Southminster, meaning that for both not only will they be separated from the friends they have made at Treetops, but a car journey to and from school will be necessary.

"We're not comfortable with putting a four-year-old child on a bus alone" – parent James Lawton

James Lawton and his wife Rasa who live off the Maldon Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, have concerns that they might be expected to put their daughter Sofia onto a school bus alone when she starts Reception in September. Sofia will have only just turned four years old by the time she school starts in September.

James said: "As bright as Sofia is we're not comfortable with putting a four-year-old child on a bus alone, even a school bus."

James' job means he cannot do the school drop-off and pick-up times and while Rasa works from home, she does not drive.

James said: "I know Essex County Council base school distance as the crow flies, but in reality Southminster Primary School is a three-mile journey with only one road, the B1021, which is a national speed limit road and has no pavement.

"With our youngest daughter Lily due to start at Treetops Pre-School in September we don't see how it will be possible

to use public transport to reach both Southminster C of E Primary and Treetops twice a day. Public transport is neither reliable enough, nor fast enough for this.

"It's not clear how much of the conversation Sofia has picked up on as yet. Having only recently moved from Kent, Sofia has settled in really nicely at Treetops and regularly talks about her best friends who all attend Treetops and are all going to either Burnham or St Mary's.

"We're being let down" – Burnham parent Lauren Swain

Lauren Swain and husband Nathan, who live in Green Lane, are angry about what has happened and are worried that daughter Hallie, who will also turn four in August, will suffer potentially serious problems as a result of the school place decision.

Lauren said that Hallie is a sensitive and shy child who will find the transition away from her friends very difficult.

"It took her nearly two years before she was comfortable being left at Treetops," Lauren says, "and I can't bear to think of it. Treetops is writing letter of support for her, but the local schools have told me they cannot have more than 30 children in a class and so there is nothing that can be done.

"There should be enough places in the town. I feel that this new housing is being built closer to the schools than the houses that were already here – and so if you're in one of the older houses, you have next to no chance of getting a place.

"My family has lived in the Dengie for three generations and more than 60 years and I have grown up here. My husband has worked for an independent business in the town for over 16 years. We've always supported our local town and now we're being let down."

Lauren added: "There is another estate now planned very close to St Mary's, so where will all the local children go then?"

The response from Essex County Council

A spokesperson for ECC said: "Whilst we do not have data broken down or Burnham-on Crouch specifically, the percentage figures for the Maldon district as a whole are below:

Offered 1st preference – 90.03%

Offered 2nd preference – 5.42%

Offered 3rd preference – 1.76%

Offered 4th preference – 0.52%

Offered non-preference and nearest school with a space – 2.27%

"The council is satisfied that its admissions and place planning procedures comply with the necessary legal requirements.

"Essex County Council updates its forecasts for school places annually. When updating forecasts, the latest available data on local population, pupil movement between schools, parental preference and new housing are all taken into account.

"While there are no primary school expansion projects currently planned for the Dengie area, ECC will commission school expansions and new schools as required to ensure there are sufficient school places available in an area."