Following a change to legislation from 1 August 2023, if a parent or carer of a child that is still four years old on the date they are eligible to start school (children with birth dates on or between the day after the school start date in August (13 August 2025) to the last day in February) defers their entry to school for a year, they can automatically access an additional year of funded early learning and childcare.

• Parents or carers with children whose 5th birthday is between March and mid-August (including the first day of the school term (13 August 2025)) are not automatically entitled to defer their child's entry to primary school as their child has already reached the age of five on the school start date in August. A further year of funded early learning and childcare provision would be at the discretion of the local authority.
• Parents or carers with children whose 5th birthday is mid-August (day after school starts on 13 August 2025) and the last day in February are entitled to defer their child's entry to P1 and can automatically access an additional year of funded early learning and childcare.

All completed request forms should be submitted electronically or handed in to your catchment primary school.