ELC Additional Year (Or Deferral of P1)

Covering the period of 01 March to the end of the following February - if a child's 5^th birthday occurs, they are eligible to enter Primary 1 at the start of term in the August within that period.

We send letters to the parents/carers of all known eligible pupils in West Lothian, who are eligible to apply for a P1 place for the next school year, this letter will also advise if a child can defer their P1 entry and how to apply for an additional year of ELC.

• If a child's 5^th birthday occurs between 01 March and the 1^st day of the school year in the August, then you cannot defer your child's entry into Primary 1.
   
• If your child's 5^th birthday occurs between 2^nd day of the school year in the August and the end of February, then you can defer your child's Primary 1 start to the following August.  You do not need to apply to defer your child's Primary 1 start, however you do need to apply for an additional year of ELC if you wish your child to attend a funded ELC placement for that year.

Parents/carers who are considering deferring their child's entry should ask advice from the staff at the nursery their child currently attends, as they will be able to provide information on your child's progress.

Please note that we will not change or discuss any application with anyone other than the named person(s) on the application form. Information regarding all our primary schools can be found at Find a School or Nursery page.

We have a new application system called Admit and this will be used to apply for an additional year of nursery for school year 2027/2028.  All children currently allocated a nursery place have a record on Admit already and parents/carers require an Admit account to access their child's record. Application will be available from 10am on Monday 09 November 2026.

• If parent/carer does not have an Admit account - please do not create an account until you receive an invite from noreply@admit.app (invites to be issued on Monday 09 November 2026). Clicking on the button on this invite will take you through the correct process to create an account and link to your child's record. If required here is guidance : Admit Application Portal Guidance -Issued Invitation - 'Welcome to Admit - Redeem Your Invitation' (PDF, 839 KB)(opens new window)
• If parent/carer does have an admit account - please check for your child's record, if not on home page then select 'Switch Child' and choose child from the list.  If not listed please contact pupilplacement@westlothian.gov.uk to ask for your child to be linked on Admit.  Please state your child's name, DOB and the e-mail you use to log into Admit on this request. 

The 2027/2028 school year will be opened week commencing 09 November 2026 to accept applications for an additional year of ELC. 

If you have any issues with the new system please seek our help by contacting us via e-mail to pupilplacement@westlothian.gov.uk or if you have managed to create an account on Admit, then you can use the messaging section of the new system to advise us of your issue.

We ask parents to submit applications as soon as possible once the process opens to allow for planning, however as the closing date is the 15 March 2027, we have time to help resolve any issues you may be having.

Before completing an application form, please read carefully 

• The Policy and procedure which can be viewed on-line: ELC Additional Year (Or Deferral of P1) Policy and Procedure , alternatively here is a PDF copy:  Additional Year of Early Learning & Childcare (Deferral of Entry to P1) (PDF, 338 KB)(opens new window) 
• The Privacy Notice which is a PDF : Privacy notice - early learning and childcare application (PDF, 483 KB)(opens new window) . 

Please use the Admit Application Portal (opens new window) to apply

The Council's School Placement Panel has responsibility for deciding these applications.

Applications are accepted from the October/November each year.

All applications requesting an additional year of ELC should be submitted by the 15 March, in the year they turn 5 if their fifth birthday is between the third Tuesday in August and the 31 December, or the year prior to them turning 5 if they were born between the 01 January and the end of February.  Applications received after this date will be considered, but places in a setting or session may not be available if decisions for nursery for that year have taken place.

For applications received by the 15 March who are applying for the same nursery and attendance pattern as their child currently attends, we will notify you of the decision within 4 weeks of receiving the application.

For applications received by the 15 March who are applying for a different nursery or a different attendance pattern than their child currently attends, your change request will be considered with all other applications for ELC for that year and you will be notified of a decision by the end of May confirming the nursery and attendance pattern that has been allocated.