Choosing a primary school in East Lothian

Enrolling your child for Primary One (P1) starting in August 2026

Arrangements are now in place to enrol pupils to primary one (P1) for August 2026 across East Lothian schools. 

Any child whose fifth birthday falls between 1 March 2026 (born 1 March 2021) and the last day of February 2027 (born 28 February 2022) is eligible to start school in August 2026.  

The online P1 enrolment period ended on 24 November 2025.  After this date you should contact the catchment primary school directly, and complete a late enrolment with them.

P1 enrolment arrangements for starting P1 in August 2026

If your child is age-eligible to start school in August 2026 and you live in the East Lothian Council area you should enrol your child for P1 in your catchment primary.   If you did not complete a P1 online enrolment for your child before 24 November 2025, you will now need to contact the catchment primary school directly and complete a late enrolment with them.

If you previously deferred your child's entry to P1 from August 2025 to August 2026, you should also enrol your child for P1 now.

The online P1 enrolment period was from 3 November to 24 November 2025.

• if your child attends a nursery class in an East Lothian primary school you must still submit a P1 enrolment form for the catchment primary school
• every home address is located in a school catchment area and for some areas there is also a local Roman Catholic school - check the catchment maps on our website
• if you can't check your address on the catchment maps - email schoolplacements@eastlothian.gov.uk for clarification on your catchment school
• you must be resident in East Lothian to enrol for a place in Primary 1 and be living at the address entered on the P1 online enrolment form (proof of address is required). If you are moving address in the coming months - email schoolplacements@eastlothian.gov.uk  for advice on the process to follow.

Non-catchment placing requests

Although most children attend their catchment school, parents may make an application for any other school under the management of East Lothian Council.  This is called a non-catchment placing request. 

If you intend to make a placing request, you should still submit a P1 enrolment form for the catchment primary school - read about making a non-catchment placing request

Deferring

The process to defer entry to P1 is open until Monday 12 January 2026.  More information can be found on the link below.

Deferred enrolment

Advice and more information

If you have any questions email schoolplacements@eastlothian.gov.uk for advice.

Read more information on school enrolment and non-catchment placing requests in the School Enrolment booklet.