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Thank you for using the link on the auto-reply message from pupilplacement@westlothian.gov.uk inbox, to access further information on additional year of Early Learning & Childcare places. This page is updated as we pass each milestone in the annual process for each years August Intake:
The Scottish Government states: "Parents of children with a birth date on or between 1 March and the school commencement date are not entitled to defer their child's start at primary school for a year, as the child has reached school age." so you should complete a Primary School Application form. This process starts when invitation letters are issued, we endeavour to issue these as soon as possible but definitely by start of November 2025, any received before this date will be disregarded.
You can defer P1 entry. You will need to decide whether you wish your child to progress to P1 in August 2026 or whether you wish to defer this to August 2027. 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.
If you decide you wish your child to progress to P1 in August 2026 - complete a Primary School Application form, This process starts when invitation letters are issued, we endeavour to issue these as soon as possible but definitely by start of November 2025, any received before this date will be disregarded. The invitation letter will contain general information and specific information determined by the address or DOB (including informing you if your child is able to defer P1 entry to August 2027) that we have on record for your child. You do not have to receive an invitation letter to complete an application form, and all applications will be accepted once the process is open.
If you decide you wish to defer P1 entry to August 2027 and if wish your child to attend a funded nursery placement for the interim period of session 2026/2027 - then you must complete an Additional Year of Early Learning & Childcare form, this process will open at the same time as the P1 application process. If you have not received a letter providing the next step in the process within 4 weeks from the date you submitted your application, then please e-mail us to ask us to confirm receipt of your application. We can also advise at that time which date (applications were received on) that we are processing.
If you submit both applications one for a 'Primary' and one for an 'Additional Year of Early Learning & Childcare' the most recently submitted form will be processed and the other disregarded.
Applications for an additional year of early learning & childcare will be accepted and processed as received up to the 15 March 2026. Applications received after this date and up to the 11 August 2025 will be considered however places maybe limited or full once nursery decisions for session 2026/2027 take place.
If you have not received a letter providing the next step in the process within 4 weeks from the date you submitted your application, then please e-mail us to ask us to confirm receipt of your application. We can also advise at that time which date (applications were received on) that we are processing.
Those applicants asking for the same council nursery with the same attendance pattern, or the same partner provider, or the same childminder as currently being attended will be issued a letter confirming the allocation as soon as the application has been processed.
Those applicants asking for the same council nursery but a different attendance pattern or different days, or a different council nursery, or a different partner provider, or a different childminder as currently being attended will be issued a letter acknowledging their application and confirming an additional year will be allocated, however we will confirm where this will be allocated by the end of May 2026.
