Deferred entry to primary school

If your child has not had their 5th birthday before they should start primary school in August, you can now automatically access an additional year of funded Early Learning and Childcare.

How to apply

If you intend to defer your child’s start in their primary school education, you should enrol your child for the appropriate catchment primary school and indicate your intention to defer entry on your child’s enrolment form. 

In addition, you should also complete a deferred entry request form which you can get from your child’s current nursery.  This form should be completed and returned to earlyyears@southlanarkshire.gov.uk.

The closing date for deferred entry request forms is 31 January. 

Children meeting the qualifying criteria will have a space reserved for them. Where possible this will be in your child’s current establishment but please be aware that if there are more applicants than spaces available your child may be offered a space in an alternative establishment for their deferred year.

Parents wishing to change nursery for their child's deferral year should submit a transfer request form which you can get at the child’s current nursery.

If you have enrolled your child for school and then request a deferral year, the school enrolment will be cancelled.  Should you later change your mind and wish your child to attend school you will need to re-enrol for a space at the catchment school for your child.