IT might be half term but education is very much on the minds of hundreds of parents in Bristol – even though their children haven't started school yet.

The sorry tale of the families who have not yet been offered reception class places has been unfolding in the pages of the Post and on our website over the past couple of weeks.

Dozens of people have now written in to tell of their concerns that their four-year-olds might have to start school life with daily bus journeys across the city.

The shortage of school places in the St Werburgh's/Bishopston area goes back nearly ten years.

But the situation is highlighted this year for two reasons: firstly, the city council has not yet confirmed any arrangements to put on extra classes at any schools and secondly, parents who had been expecting a school place offer at the end of January have been told they must wait until the end of April.

They will not even know until March 23 their position on the waiting lists for their preferred schools. The council has made public the number of on-time applications it received but families who sought places after the October deadline must now also be taken into account.

For the first time, the council has suggested providing shared transport to take groups of children from central areas to schools in outlying districts that have places.

It already offers free bus passes to children and carers who have to travel more than two miles to primary school – although, not surprisingly, few take up this option.

The continuing uncertainty is creating intense anxiety for families at what should be an exciting time for parents and children.

The parents who have contacted us are making their case with restraint and dignity – but they are desperate for some answers.

One said: "We cannot remain in a situation of sleepless nights, worry and anger over this issue for three more months.What are Bristol City Council goint to do to resolve this sensibly, amicably and effectively for all concerned?"

The situation risks alienating the next generation of parents at a time when the local authority is trying so hard to restore confidence in its schools.

One father said to me: "We were shocked when we moved here to see parents just a little older than us sending their teenagers to private schools without a qualm. Many of us feel a strong comitment to state education and want to help put schooling in Bristol back on its feet but this sort of thing does lead one to doubt the competence of the local authority."

There is, perhaps inevitably, a political element to this. The minority Labour administration reversed a Liberal Democrat decision to build a new primary school in Bishopston in favour of expanding Sefton Park infant and juniors – but this scheme is fiercely opposed by some parents.

The council has also spent 18 months conducting a citywide review of its primary provision which it hopes will resolve some of the problems of under and over demand for places in time.

But that does not help for this year, or, probably, next.

It's also important to remember that this is not just affecting a few white middle-class families in a small pocket of the city.

The Post's map showed that some families are finding that up to 30 schools within a radius of their homes are full up.

Inner city areas such as St Paul's and Easton are also hit especially hard, because of the rising and fluid migrant population.

This led last year to a disgraceful situation where some ethnic minority children missed the whole of their reception class schooling because the only primary that could offer them a place was a complicated bus journey away.

Extra classes were provided at Millpond Primary from this September in both Year 1 and reception – but the school does not know if this will be the case this time, meaning dozens of families in that area are facing an anxious wait.

In St Paul's, some organisations are backing the use of community transport to get children to school, because it will be less isolating than using public buses.

Of course, there is not one easy answer that will solve all the problems.

But it is to be hoped that the council will continue talking to schools and groups of parents and meet those newly affected to try to work out some solutions – sooner rather than later.