Deferred Entry Application Process
August to February Birth Dates
If your child's 5th birthday is between the first day of term in August the last day of February and you wish to defer their entry to school, you should discuss this with the head of your child's nursery. You do NOT need to complete a form or provide any evidence of educational need to defer.
The nursery will advise the Council's Customer Business Service (Early Years) of your request to defer your child and they will send a letter asking you to confirm your decision and confirm which primary school you hope your child will be attending in the future and whether you have already registered them at that school.
If you confirm that you do wish to defer entry and you have already registered for school, your child's name will be removed from the primary school list for that year and you should note, that should you change your mind at a later date, there may no longer be a place available for them at that school.
If you are not certain whether you wish to defer entry or not, you should not confirm until later in the year when you will be asked again for a definite decision.
March to August Birthdates
If your child has a birthdate between the beginning of March up until the first day of term in August and you feel that they would benefit from an additional year at nursery rather than starting school, then in the first instance you should discuss this with your child's nursery.
The nursery will help you to complete a Deferred Entry Funding Request form (see attached). All of the information you and the nursery provide will be used to support the decision-making process.
Where your child has significant additional support needs, as well as the Deferred Entry Funding Request Form, the head of the nursery should also complete and submit the Supporting Evidence Form (see attached). This helps us in planning how to best support your child's needs.
Applications to defer may be submitted at any point during the year, however, it is most helpful if they are submitted by 31st March. This is because the allocations process for August nursery places takes place during April and May and if the application has not been received, there may not be a space available in your child's nursery at a later date.
You should note that if your application to defer is successful and your child has an additional year in nursery, you MUST enrol your child for school through the normal process the following year. The Council will not automatically enrol your child for you following a deferred year.
ELC Registered Childminders
Should your child be accessing their ELC entitlement with a Registered Childminder and you wish to defer their entry to school, please ask your childminder to bring this to the attention of the Scottish Childminding Association Development Worker who supports the Council's ELC framework for childminders. The SCMA Development Worker will assist in taking forward your application.
Related Content
Documents
Share this page
