Mainstream School Applications (Primary and Secondary)

Deferring Entry to Primary 1 (P1)

Children who turn five between the second day of the school year in August and the end of February may delay starting P1 until the following August.

If you wish to defer your child's entry to school, you must apply for an 'additional year of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC)' to be considered for nursery funding and a nursery place during the deferred year.

Requesting an Additional Year of ELC

Children who turn five between 1 March and the first day of the school year in August would normally start P1 that August.

Parents/Carers may still request an additional year of Early Learning and Childcare, but each application will be considered individually by the School Placement Panel and may be refused.

Please refer to the Additional Year of Early Learning & Childcare (Deferral of Entry to P1) (PDF, 338 KB)(opens new window) for further information.

Early Admission to P1

The Council is not required to provide school education for children who are not yet of school age. However, parents/carers may apply for Early Admission to P1.

Please refer to the Early Admission to Primary School (PDF, 104 KB)(opens new window) for details of how to apply.

Repeating a School Year

In exceptional circumstances, a child already attending primary or secondary school may be considered to repeat a year group.

Please refer to the Additional Year of School Education (PDF, 260 KB)(opens new window) for further information.