Deferred entry to primary 1 and accessing an additional year of funded ELC

If your child is still age 4 on the day they would usually start primary 1, you have the right to defer when they start primary school. This means your child can start school the following year when they are 5.

The following information is here to help you as you think about this decision.


When do children usually start school in Scotland?

Children in Scotland generally start school when they are aged between four and-a-half and five-and-a-half. When they are eligible to start school depends on when their fifth birthday is:

  • If your child’s birthday is on or between 1 March and the first day of school in August, your child will start school in the August (the beginning of the Autumn term) of the year they turn 5.
  • If your child’s birthday is on or between the day after the first day of school in August and the last day in February, your child will usually start school in the August (the beginning of the Autumn term) in the year before they turn 5.

What is deferred entry to school?

Deferred entry to school means that children start primary school one year later than the usual start date.

All parents and carers have a legal right to defer their child’s entry to primary school if they are not yet 5 years old at the beginning of the school year.

All eligible children who defer entry to primary 1 will automatically be entitled to an additional year of funded ELC.


How do I decide what is best for my child?

Deciding when your child starts primary school is a big decision. Before making up your mind, it is worth finding out about the primary school your child will be attending. This could involve visiting the school or speaking to the Head Teacher about any specific concerns you might have. 

If you think your child might benefit from a little extra support to settle in, then find out what the school can do. Your ELC setting will also be able to give support.


Things to consider for your child:

Can my child have an additional year of funded ELC?

Yes, if your child was born on or between 14 August 2019 and 29 February 2020.

Every effort will be made for this to be accessed at the setting of your choice, but this cannot be guaranteed if you want to change setting for this additional year or request a setting outwith Angus.

Children who are five before 14 August 2019 must start school in August or you can arrange a suitable alternative for your child’s education, for example home schooling.


School readiness

If you are concerned about ‘school readiness’, then please remember, primary schools are very well equipped to meet a wide range of needs. It is not for the child to be ‘school ready’ but for the school to be ‘child ready’.


What feedback has the ELC setting given you?

You can ask to speak to staff in your ELC setting to get advice about your child’s learning and development in ELC to support you in making a decision.


If I choose to send my child to school, what support will be available for them from the school?

Sharing information means extra supports can be put in place at transition from ELC to primary. This will ensure your child’s needs are met in a supportive learning context. Staff at your child’s ELC setting will be happy to discuss this with you. You can also approach the Head Teacher of the primary school your child will attend.


If I choose to defer my child’s entry to primary 1, what support and challenge will they receive from the ELC setting?

In ELC all children are challenged and supported to ensure that they progress in their learning and development through playful teaching and learning.


What will deferral mean when my child is older, for example, when they are 12 or 16, and they might be one of the youngest or one of the oldest in their class?

It is important to consider your child’s school career from ELC to secondary school and beyond. Please speak to staff in your ELC setting who will be happy to give support and advice or to the Head Teacher of the school your child will attend.


If I defer my child’s entry to primary 1, what will this mean for gaining qualifications?

All young people can legally leave school in Scotland at age 16. If your child turns 16 between 1 March and 30 September, they can leave school after 31 May of that year. 

If they turn 16 between 1 October and the end of February, they can leave at the start of the Christmas holidays in that school year. This may mean that your child could decide to leave school without achieving any SQA National Qualifications.


Which ELC setting should my child attend?

It is worth considering in which setting you want your child to complete their additional year of funded ELC.  

If you apply for a primary one place at a school that is not your child’s primary catchment school, there is no guarantee that they will be able to attend this school.

Attendance at any local authority setting will not give your child priority for a place at that school when starting primary one unless it is the setting of your primary catchment school.

Please remember, the decision making processes for primary one placing requests will not consider or be influenced by:

  • whether or not a child has completed an additional year of funded ELC
  • where this has taken place

How are four year olds supported in primary 1?

Schools and teachers focus on the needs of the child, not their age, whether they are in ELC or at school. Children are supported and challenged to progress in their learning and development according to their needs. All primary 1 children have rich opportunities to engage in learning through play indoors and outdoors. 

We are responsible for identifying whether your child needs help with their learning. If we identify that your child needs some extra support, then we will provide this. We will always consider any information you provide about your child’s needs when making decisions about support.


My child has additional support needs, should I defer their entry to primary 1?

Your decision should be based on the individual needs of your child. There is no ‘one-size fits all’ approach to deferral or supporting children with additional support needs. Children with additional support needs do not usually automatically defer. Instead, the school will consider the relevant support to put in place.

If starting school is not in your child’s best interest, then deferring entry to primary 1 can be considered. Please speak to staff at your ELC setting and school about any concerns you have for your child.


My child lives in Angus but attends an ELC setting outwith Angus.  If I am considering applying for an additional year of funded ELC, what should I do?

You must complete the additional year of funded ELC application form for the local authority in which you live, in this case Angus.

We will make every effort, through discussion with the other local authority, for your child to access the additional year of funded ELC at the setting of your choice. However, we cannot guarantee this.


My child attends an Angus ELC setting and I do not live in Angus.  If I am considering applying for an additional year of funded ELC, what should I do?

You must complete the additional year of funded ELC application form for the local authority in which you live.

You should also refer to that local authority’s deferred entry and additional year of funded ELC guidance.


Next steps

Once you have considered all the information and made your decision, you need to let us know. You can either:

Request an additional year of funded ELC for your child by completing this form:

Apply for an additional year of funded ELC


or

Enrol your child in primary 1:

Further information on how to enrol your child in primary 1

Where possible, please submit the additional year of funded ELC application by the end of February.